Method, system, and computer program product for preventing unwanted application behavior

• US 7,454,712 B2
• Filed: 07/18/2005
• Issued: 11/18/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Schultz, Dale M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong; Stephen
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDUL-ALI, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US11/183,493
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016876A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 715/790, 715/794, 715/796, 715/802
• US Class Current: 715/802
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

The present invention provides a method, system, and computer program product for preventing unwanted application behavior. A method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention includes: determining when a window assumes a focus of a user interface; and preventing predetermined user input from being applied to the window for a predetermined period of time after the window assumes focus.

Claims

1. A method for preventing unwanted application behavior, comprising:

determining when a window assumes a focus of a user interface; and

preventing predetermined user input from being applied to the window for a predetermined period of time after the window assumes focus, wherein preventing a predetermined user input from being applied to the window further comprises;

obtaining a set of parameters associated with the window, wherein the set of parameters includes a set of user inputs to be ignored and a period of time each user input is to be ignored, and wherein different user inputs can be associated with different periods of time;

comparing a user input to the set of user inputs to be ignored;

preventing the user input from being applied to the window for the period of time, if a match is found in the comparing step; and

applying the user input to the window if a match is not found in the comparing step.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of preventing a predetermined user input from being applied to the window further comprises:

applying the user input to the window if a match is found in the comparing step and the period of time has expired.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the period of time is adjustable.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

informing a user that their user input has been prevented from being applied to the window.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of informing a user further comprises:

providing a signal indicating that the user input has been prevented from being applied to the window.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the signal is selected from the group consisting of a visual signal and an auditory signal.

7. Deploying an application for preventing unwanted application behavior, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to perform the method of claim 1.

8. A system for preventing unwanted application behavior, comprising:

at least one computer, including;

a system for determining when a window assumes a focus of a user interface; and

a system for preventing predetermined user input from being applied to the window for a predetermined period of time after the window assumes focus, wherein the system for preventing a predetermined user input from being applied to the window further comprises;

a system for obtaining a set of parameters associated with the window, wherein the set of parameters includes a set of user inputs to be ignored and a period of time each user input is to be ignored,. and wherein different user inputs can be associated with different periods of time;

a system for comparing a user input to the set of user inputs to be ignored;

a system for preventing the user input from being applied to the window for the period of time, if a match is found by the system for comparing; and

a system for applying the user input to the window if a match is not found by the system for comparing.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the system for preventing a predetermined user input from being applied to the window further comprises:

a system for applying the user input to the window if a match is found and the period of time has expired.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the period of time is adjustable.

11. The system of claim 8, further comprising:

a system for informing a user that their user input has been prevented from being applied to the window.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the system for informing a user further comprises:

a system for providing a signal indicating that the user input has been prevented from being applied to the window.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the signal is selected from the group consisting of a visual signal and an auditory signal.

14. A program product stored on a computer readable medium for preventing unwanted application behavior, the computer readable medium comprising program code for performing, when executed on a computer system, the steps of:

determining when a window assumes a focus of a user interface; and

preventing predetermined user input from being applied to the window for a predetermined period of time after the window assumes focus, wherein preventing a predetermined user input from being applied to the window further comprises;

obtaining a set of parameters associated with the window, wherein the set of parameters includes a set of user inputs to be ignored and a period of time each user input is to be ignored, and wherein different user inputs can be associated with different periods of time;

comparing a user input to the set of user inputs to be ignored;

preventing the user input from being applied to the window for the period of time, if a match is found in the comparing step; and

applying the user input to the window if a match is not found in the comparing step.