Single window navigation methods and systems

• US 7,346,848 B1
• Filed: 06/21/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Nakajima, Satoshi, Erickson, Paul R., Ruthfield, Scott L., Wolf, Richard J., Hopcroft, Michael J.
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US09/599,298
• Time in Patent Office: 2,827 Days
• Field of Search: 345853-855, 345708-711, 345/712, 345/713, 345/792, 345/760, 345/802, 345/803, 345/804, 345/805, 345/811, 345744-747, 345762-763, 709/203, 709/227, 709/202, 709/315, 709/328, 715748-749, 715802-803, 715804-805, 715806-807, 715/854, 715/853, 715/745, 715/719, 715/852, 715/752, 715/767, 715/765, 715/835
• US Class Current: 715/749
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A user interface (UI) in the form of a single navigable window enables a user to navigate to and between multiple different functionalities that are provided by a single application program. Novel use is made of a navigation model that manages the user'"'"'s navigation activities to and between the different functionalities. Navigation instrumentalities enable the user to navigate among the different functionalities and include links to each of the different functionalities as well as browser-like navigation buttons. Context-sensitive command sets can also be provided along with the single navigable window. The context sensitive command sets include commands that automatically change as the user'"'"'s computing context changes, e.g. as the user moves from functionality to functionality. The single application can be defined as a software platform that is extensible to receive and incorporate different functionalities. The functionalities can be provided as software modules that can be sent over a network such as the Internet. The extensible software platform provides a basis to offer a subscriber or fee-based service where different subscribers can, for a fee, access different functionalities via a network such as the Internet.

Claims

1. A computing system comprising:

a single application program configured to provide;

a single navigable window;

multiple different functionalities internal to the single application program to which the single navigable window can be navigated by a user;

a navigation model that is configured to seamlessly manage the user'"'"'s navigation activities between the multiple different functionalities within the single application program;

navigation instrumentalities comprising browser-like navigation buttons associated with the single navigable window, the navigation instrumentalities being configured for use by the user to navigate the single window inside individual functionalities and to the different functionalities, wherein the multiple different functionalities comprise two or more of the following;

a web-browser functionality;

a planner functionality;

an email functionality;

a contacts functionality; and

a word processing functionality, and

wherein the single navigable window comprises, for at least two of the multiple different functionalities, a command area having a specific command for each of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities and a global command for both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities,

each specific command being displayed in, usable in, and performing a command specific to only one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities; and

the global command being displayed in both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities but performing a different command when displayed in one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities than in another of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities.

2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the navigation model comprises a navigation stack.

3. The computing system of claim 2, wherein the navigation stack comprises a back-and-truncate stack.

4. The computing system of claim 1, wherein one of the navigation instrumentalities comprises links associated with each of the multiple different functionalities to which the single navigable window can be navigated.

5. The computing system of claim 1, wherein one of the navigation instrumentalities comprises browser-like navigation buttons that can be used, in connection with the navigation model, to navigate the single navigable window inside individual functionalities and between the different functionalities.

6. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the navigation instrumentalities comprise:

links associated with each of the multiple different functionalities to which the single navigable window can be navigated; and

browser-like navigation buttons that can be used, in connection with the navigation model, to navigate the single navigable window between the different functionalities.

7. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the single application program automatically changes specific commands that are presented to the user within the command area as the user navigates to different functionalities.

8. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the multiple different functionalities comprise document-centric functionalities.

9. The computing system of claim 1, wherein each of the multiple different functionalities enables the user to accomplish a different task.

10. The computing system of claim 9, wherein the different tasks each relate to a different document type.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein the global command when displayed in the word processing functionality and when displayed in the web browser functionality indicates in both that the global command comprises a “

help”

command but performs a first command to help a user understand the word processing functionality when selected in the word processing functionality and a second command to help a user understand the web browser functionality when selected in the web browser functionality.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the specific command comprises a “

text bold”

command when displayed in the word processing functionality.

13. A computing system comprising:

a single application program configured to provide;

a single navigable window;

multiple different document-centric functionalities internal to the single application program to which the single navigable window can be navigated by a user; and

a navigation stack that is configured to enable the user to navigate the single navigable window back and forth between different functionalities,

wherein the multiple different document-centric functionalities comprise two or more of the following;

a web-browser functionality;

a planner functionality;

an email functionality;

a contacts functionality; and

a word processing functionality, and

wherein the single navigable window comprises, for at least two of the multiple different document-centric functionalities, a command area having a specific command for each of said at least two of the multiple different document-centric functionalities and a global command for both of said at least two of the multiple different document-centric functionalities,

each specific command being displayed in, usable in, and performing a command specific to only one of said at least two of the multiple different document-centric functionalities; and

the global command being displayed in both of said at least two of the multiple different document-centric functionalities but performing a different command when displayed in one of said at least two of the multiple different document-centric functionalities than in another of said at least two of the multiple different document-centric functionalities.

14. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the navigation stack comprises a back-and-truncate navigation stack.

15. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the single application program is configured to provide navigation instrumentalities associated with the single navigable window, the navigation instrumentalities being configured for use by the user to navigate the single window inside individual functionalities and to the multiple different document-centric functionalities.

16. The computing system of claim 15, wherein one of the navigation instrumentalities comprises links associated with each of the multiple different document-centric functionalities to which the single navigable window can be navigated.

17. The computing system of claim 15, wherein one of the navigation instrumentalities comprises browser-like navigation buttons that can be used, in connection with the navigation stack, to navigate the single navigable window inside individual functionalities and between the multiple different document-centric functionalities.

18. The computing system of claim 15, wherein the navigation instrumentalities comprise:

links associated with each of the multiple different document-centric functionalities to which the single navigable window can be navigated; and

browser-like navigation buttons that can be used, in connection with the navigation stack, to navigate the single navigable window inside individual functionalities and between the multiple different document-centric functionalities.

19. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the single application program is configured to incorporate extensible functionalities.

20. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the single application program is configured to receive one or more software modules embodying individual functionalities via a network.

21. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the single application program is configured to receive one or more software modules embodying individual functionalities via the Internet.

22. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the single application program is configured to receive one or more software modules embodying individual functionalities in connection with a subscriber model in which various subscribers pay a fee for access to the various functionalities.

23. A computing system comprising:

a single application program configured to;

display a single navigable window for a user to use in seamlessly navigating between multiple different functionalities that can be provided by the single application program; and

incorporate different functionalities in an extensible manner so that the user can use the single navigable window to navigate to the different incorporated functionalities,

wherein the different incorporated functionalities comprise two or more of the following;

a web-browser functionality;

a planner functionality;

an email functionality;

a contacts functionality; and

a word processing functionality, and

wherein the single navigable window comprises, for at least two of the multiple different functionalities, a command area having a specific command for each of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities and a global command for both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities,

each specific command being displayed in, usable in, and performing a command specific to only one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities; and

the global command being displayed in both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities but performing a different command when displayed in one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities than in another of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities.

24. The computing system of claim 23, wherein the different incorporated functionalities can be delivered to the single application program via a network.

25. The computing system of claim 24, wherein the different incorporated functionalities can be delivered to the single application program via the Internet.

26. The computing system of claim 24, wherein the single application program is configured to provide a navigation model that is configured to manage the user'"'"'s navigation activities within the single application program.

27. The computing system of claim 26, wherein the navigation model comprises a navigation stack.

28. The computing system of claim 24, wherein the single application program is configured to provide navigation instrumentalities associated with the single navigable window, the navigation instrumentalities being configured for use by the user to navigate the single window inside individual functionalities and to the different incorporated functionalities.

29. The computing system of claim 28, wherein one of the navigation instrumentalities comprises links associated with each of the different incorporated functionalities to which the single navigable window can be navigated.

30. The computing system of claim 28, wherein one of the navigation instrumentalities comprises browser-like navigation buttons that can be used to navigate the single navigable window inside individual functionalities and between different incorporated functionalities.

31. The computing system of claim 23, wherein the different incorporated functionalities comprise document-centric functionalities.

32. The computing system of claim 31, wherein individual different functionalities that can be incorporated into the single application program can be delivered to the application program in connection with a fee-based subscription model.

33. A computing system comprising:

a network-accessible single application program;

a single navigable window provided by the application program;

multiple different functionalities provided by and internal to the application program, the program being configured so that a user can navigate the single navigable window and seamlessly interact with the different functionalities to accomplish different tasks; and

a navigation stack that is configured to enable the user to navigate the single navigable window back and forth between different functionalities,

wherein the multiple different functionalities comprise two or more of the following;

a web-browser functionality;

a planner functionality;

an email functionality;

a contacts functionality; and

a word processing functionality, and

wherein the single navigable window comprises, for at least two of the multiple different functionalities, a command area having a specific command for each of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities and a global command for both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities,

each specific command being displayed in, usable in, and performing a command specific to only one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities; and

the global command being displayed in both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities but performing a different command when displayed in one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities than in another of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities.

34. The computing system of claim 33, wherein the single application program is configured so that the functionalities are extensible.

35. The computing system of claim 33, wherein the single application program is configured to provide a navigation model that is configured to manage the user'"'"'s navigation activities within the single application program.

36. The computing system of claim 33, wherein at least some of the different functionalities comprise software modules that are deliverable via a network.

37. The computing system of claim 36, wherein the network comprises the Internet.

38. The computing system of claim 36, wherein the software modules are deliverable in the context of a fee-based subscription model.

39. A computing system comprising:

a software platform comprising software that is configured to provide a single application program that provides;

a single navigable window;

capabilities to navigate the single navigable window to different functionalities that can enable a user to accomplish different tasks;

capabilities to seamlessly manage navigation activities of the user;

capabilities to provide specific commands and change the specific commands as a user'"'"'s context changes in accordance with the user'"'"'s navigation activities; and

capabilities to receive and incorporate into the single application program individual software components that comprise individual different functionalities,

wherein the individual different functionalities comprise two or more of the following;

a web-browser functionality;

a planner functionality;

an email functionality;

a contacts functionality; and

a word processing functionality, and

wherein the single navigable window comprises, for at least two of the multiple different functionalities, a command area having one of the specific commands for each of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities and a global command for both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities,

each specific command being displayed in, usable in, and performing a command specific to only one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities; and

the global command being displayed in both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities but performing a different command when displayed in one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities than in another of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities.

40. A computer-readable medium having a tangible component which, when executed by a computer, provides a user interface (UI) comprising:

a single window that is capable of being seamlessly navigated to and between multiple different functionalities that enable a user to accomplish multiple tasks in connection with a single application that provides and comprises the multiple different functionalities; and

navigation instrumentalities comprising browser-like navigation buttons that are configured to enable the user to navigate the single window to and between the multiple different functionalities,

wherein the multiple different functionalities comprise two or more of the following;

a web-browser functionality;

a planner functionality;

an email functionality;

a contacts functionality; and

a word processing functionality, and

wherein the single window comprises, for at least two of the multiple different functionalities, a command area having a specific command for each of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities and a global command for both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities,

each specific command being displayed in, usable in, and performing a command specific to only one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities; and

the global command being displayed in both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities but performing a different command when displayed in one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities than in another of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities.

41. The medium of claim 40, wherein the UI is configured to automatically change the specific commands as the user'"'"'s context changes when they navigate to and between the multiple different functionalities.

42. The medium of claim 40, wherein the navigation instrumentalities comprise multiple links each of which being associated with a different functionality, the links being selectable by the user for navigating the single window to a functionality that is associated with the selected link.

43. The medium of claim 40, wherein the navigation instrumentalities comprise browser-like navigation buttons.

44. The medium of claim 40, wherein the navigation instrumentalities comprise:

multiple links each of which being associated with a different functionality, the links being selectable by the user for navigating the single window to a functionality that is associated with the selected link; and

browser-like navigation buttons.

45. A computing method comprising:

displaying a user interface that comprises a single navigable window that can be seamlessly navigated between multiple different functionalities that are provided by and are internal to a single application program;

receiving user input that indicates selection of a particular functionality;

responsive to receiving said user input, navigating the single navigable window to the particular selected functionality and displaying in said window indicia of said functionality that can enable a user to accomplish a task associated with the particular selected functionality; and

managing a user'"'"'s navigation activities using a navigation model that maintains entries that correspond to the user'"'"'s navigation activities,

wherein the multiple different functionalities comprise two or more of the following;

a web-browser functionality;

a planner functionality;

an email functionality;

a contacts functionality; and

a word processing functionality, and

wherein said displaying displays the single navigable window comprising, for at least two of the multiple different functionalities, a command area having a specific command for each of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities and a global command for both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities,

each specific command being displayed in, usable in, and performing a command specific to only one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities; and

the global command being displayed in both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities but performing a different command when displayed in one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities than in another of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein said managing comprises:

ascertaining whether a user'"'"'s activities impacts a navigation model entry; and

responsive to ascertaining that a user'"'"'s activities impacts one or more navigation model entries, manipulating said one or more entries.

47. The method of claim 46, wherein said manipulating comprises removing an entry.

48. The method of claim 46, wherein said manipulating comprises removing an entry that is at least one entry away from an entry corresponding to the user'"'"'s present navigation activity.

49. The method of claim 46, wherein said manipulating comprises adding an entry.

50. The method of claim 46, wherein said manipulating comprises reorganizing the navigation model entries responsive to a user action that is not a navigation action.

51. The method of claim 46, wherein said manipulating comprises maintaining the state of a document in response to user navigation activities that take the user on a navigation path that is outside of a direct path to the document.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein said manipulating comprises modifying at least one URL that is associated with at least one navigation model entry.

53. The method of claim 46, wherein said manipulating comprises modifying at least one title that is associated with at least one navigation model entry.

54. The method of claim 46, wherein said manipulating comprises modifying an entry so that it points to a location that is different from a location to which it previously pointed.

55. The method of claim 45, wherein the navigation model comprises a back-and-truncate navigation stack.

56. The method of claim 45, wherein said displaying of the user interface comprises displaying proximate the single navigable window, navigation instrumentalities that are configured to enable to user to input selection of a particular functionality.

57. The method of claim 56, wherein one of the navigation instrumentalities comprises links associated with each of the multiple different functionalities.

58. The method of claim 56, wherein one of the navigation instrumentalities comprises browser-like navigation buttons that can be used by a user to navigate the single navigable window between the multiple different functionalities.

59. A computing method comprising:

display a user interface that comprises;

a single navigable window that can be seamlessly navigated between multiple different functionalities that are provided by and are internal to a single application program, the multiple different functionalities comprising two or more of the following;

a web-browser functionality;

a planner functionality;

an email functionality;

a contacts functionality; and

a word processing functionality, and that comprises, for at least two of the multiple different functionalities, a command area having a specific command for each of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities and a global command for both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities,

each specific command being displayed in, usable in, and performing a command specific to only one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities; and

the global command being displayed in both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities but performing a different command when displayed in one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities than in another of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities; and

navigation instrumentalities that are configured to enable selection of a particular functionality, the navigation instrumentalities comprising links associated with each of the multiple different functionalities and browser-like navigation buttons that can be used by the user to navigate the single navigable window between the different functionalities;

receive user input via said navigation instrumentalities that indicates selection of a particular functionality; and

responsive to receiving said user input, navigate the single navigable window to the particular selected functionality and display in said window indicia of said functionality that can enable a user to accomplish a task associated with the particular selected functionality.

60. The method of claim 59, wherein the multiple different functionalities comprise document-centric functionalities.

61. A computing method comprising:

providing a single application program that is configured to display a single navigable window for a user to use in seamlessly navigating between multiple different functionalities that can be provided by the single application program; and

incorporating different functionalities in an extensible manner internally into the single application program so that the user can use the single navigable window to navigate to the different incorporated functionalities,

wherein the different incorporated functionalities comprise two or more of the following;

a web-browser functionality;

a planner functionality;

an email functionality;

a contacts functionality; and

a word processing functionality, and

wherein said providing provides the single navigable window comprising, for at least two of the multiple different functionalities, a command area having a specific command for each of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities and a global command for both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities,

each specific command being displayed in, usable in, and performing a command specific to only one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities; and

the global command being displayed in both of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities but performing a different command when displayed in one of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities than in another of said at least two of the multiple different functionalities.

62. The method of claim 61, wherein said incorporating comprises delivering software modules embodying one or more functionalities via a network.

63. The method of claim 61, wherein said incorporating comprises delivering software modules embodying one or more functionalities via the Internet.

64. The method of claim 61, wherein the single application program is configured to provide a navigation model that is configured to manage the user'"'"'s navigation activities within the single application program.

65. The method of claim 61, wherein the single application program is configured to display navigation instrumentalities associated with the single navigable window and configured to enable the user to navigate the single window to the different incorporated functionalities.

66. The method of claim 65, wherein the navigation instrumentalities include one or more of the following:

links associated with each of the different incorporated functionalities to which the single navigable window can be navigated; and

browser-like navigation buttons that can be used to navigate the single navigable window between the different incorporated functionalities.

67. A computing method comprising:

displaying a user interface that comprises a single navigable window that can be navigated between multiple different document-centric functionalities that are provided by and are internal to a single application program and that comprises a command area having a global command and a first specific command, the first specific command usable in and performing a command for a first document-centric functionality;

receiving user input that indicates selection of a second document-centric functionality;

responsive to receiving said user input, navigating the single navigable window to the selected second document-centric functionality and displaying in said window;

the same global command and a second specific command, the second specific command usable in and performing a command for the selected second document-centric functionality, and the global command performing a different command for the selected second document-centric functionality than said first document-centric functionality; and

indicia of said functionality that can enable a user to accomplish a task associated with the selected second functionality; and

managing a user'"'"'s navigation activities using a navigation model that maintains entries that correspond to the user'"'"'s navigation activities,

wherein the multiple different document-centric functionalities comprise two or more of the following;

a web-browser functionality;

a planner functionality;

an email functionality;

a contacts functionality; and

a word processing functionality.

68. The method of claim 67, wherein the document-centric functionalities comprise each of the following:

a web-browser functionality, an email functionality, and a word processing functionality.

69. The method of claim 67 further comprising receiving user input to create a new document from a plurality of available document types, and said navigating comprises navigating said single window to an empty document of a corresponding type.

70. The method of claim 69 further comprising making an entry in a navigation model corresponding to the new document, the navigation model being used to manage user navigation activities.

71. The method of claim 67, wherein the multiple different document-centric functionalities are associated with different document types that can be authored by a user, and further comprising receiving user input indicating that the user has completed work on a document of a particular document type, and responsive thereto, automatically publishing the document based upon the document type.

72. The method of claim 67, wherein said managing comprises:

ascertaining whether a user'"'"'s activities impacts a navigation model entry; and

responsive to ascertaining that a user'"'"'s activities impacts one or more navigation model entries, manipulating said one or more entries.

73. The method of claim 72, wherein said manipulating comprises removing an entry.

74. The method of claim 72, wherein said manipulating comprises removing an entry that is at least one entry away from an entry corresponding to the user'"'"'s present navigation activity.

75. The method of claim 72, wherein said manipulating comprises adding an entry.

76. The method of claim 72, wherein said manipulating comprises reorganizing the navigation model entries responsive to a user action that is not a navigation action.

77. The method of claim 72, wherein said manipulating comprises maintaining the state of a document in response to user navigation activities that take a user on a navigation path that is outside of a direct path to the document.

78. The method of claim 72, wherein said manipulating comprises modifying at least one URL that is associated with at least one navigation model entry.

79. The method of claim 72, wherein said manipulating comprises modifying an entry so that it points to a location that is different from a location to which it previously pointed.

80. The method of claim 67, wherein the first document-centric functionality is the planner functionality and the selected second document-centric functionality is the web-browser functionality, and wherein the global command indicates that a “

search”

is performed by the global command in both of said functionalities but performs different search commands in the first and second functionalities, a first search command to search a schedule when selected in the planner functionality and a second search command to search information on websites when selected in the web browser functionality.