Visual expression of a state of an application window

• US 7,577,918 B2
• Filed: 07/15/2005
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Lindsay, Donald J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore; William L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Phantana-angkool; David
• Application Number:
  US11/181,901
• Publication Number:
  US 20070016873A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,495 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/781
• US Class Current: 715/781
• 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 method for changing a visual state of an application window representation is described. The method includes steps of displaying an application window representation with a default visual state, and changing the default visual state of the application window representation to one of at least two different visual states. The entirety of the application window representation or a portion of the application window representation may have a change to its visual state. The visual states may be a change in color, pattern, and/or texture. A group of visual states changes may correlate to an animation. Visual states may be defined by a default or user configurable. Visual states may change over time or in response to an event. Visual states may change back to a default state when the application window representation is accessed.

Claims

1. One or more computer-storage media with computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that when executed by a computing device perform a method for changing a visual state of an application window, wherein the application window includes a frame and a content portion for displaying application content, the method comprising steps of:

displaying first and second application windows, the first application window being active and configured with a default active visual state indicated by a default appearance of the frame on the first application window, and the second application window being inactive and configured with a first inactive visual state indicated by a first-inactive appearance of the frame on the second application window, wherein the first-inactive appearance is different than the default appearance; and

automatically changing the first inactive visual state of the second application window to a second inactive visual state that is different than the first inactive visual state, wherein the second inactive visual state is indicated by a second-inactive appearance of the frame on the second application window, wherein the second-inactive appearance is different than the default appearance and the first-inactive appearance, wherein the first-inactive appearance is indicated by an animation including a first number of animated bubbles displayed on and proximate to the second application window and the second-inactive appearance is indicated by an animation including a second number of animated bubbles displayed proximate to the second application window, and wherein the second number is larger than the first number, and wherein the second-inactive appearance is configured to express a higher need for attention than the first-inactive appearance.

2. The media of claim 1, wherein the first inactive visual state is defined by a user configuration.

3. The media of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

changing the second inactive visual state of the second application window to a third inactive visual state indicated by a third-inactive appearance of the frame on the second application window, wherein the third inactive appearance is different from the first-inactive appearance, the second-inactive appearance, and the default appearance.

4. The media of claim 3, wherein the third inactive visual state is configured to express a higher need for attention than the second inactive visual state.

5. The media of claim 3, wherein the step of changing the second inactive visual state of the second application window to a third inactive visual state occurs when a time threshold has been reached.

6. The media of claim 3, wherein the method further comprises:

upon changing the visual state of the second application window to the third inactive visual state, changing a corresponding visual state of an application window representation associated with the second application window to a third corresponding inactive visual state.

7. The media of claim 1, wherein the second inactive visual state includes one of a different color, a different pattern, and a different texture from the first inactive visual state.

8. The media of claim 1, further comprising a step of determining whether a first time threshold has been reached, wherein the step of changing the first inactive visual state of the second application window to a second inactive visual state includes changing the first inactive visual state based upon the determination that the first time threshold has been reached.

9. The media of claim 8, further comprising steps of:

determining whether a second time threshold has been reached; and

changing the second inactive visual state of the second application window to a third inactive visual state indicated by a third-inactive appearance of the frame on the second application window based upon the determination that the second time threshold has been reached, wherein the third-inactive appearance is different from the first-inactive appearance, the second-inactive appearance, and the default appearance.

10. The media of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

determining whether an input has been received to access the second application window; and

incident to said determining, changing the second inactive visual state of the application window to the first inactive visual state.

11. The media of claim 1, further comprising a step of receiving a command to change the first inactive visual state of the second application window.

12. The media of claim 11, wherein the command correlates to a notification of an event.

13. The media of claim 12, wherein the event is a scheduled event.

14. The media of claim 1, wherein the method further comprises:

upon changing the visual state of the second application window from the first inactive visual state to the second inactive visual state, changing a corresponding visual state of an application window representation associated with the second application window from a first corresponding inactive visual state to a second corresponding visual state.

15. The one or more media of claim 1, wherein the second application window is associated with a scheduling program and displays an appointment reminder.

16. A method for changing a visual state of an application window in a desktop space, wherein the application window includes a frame and a content portion for displaying application content, the method comprising steps of:

displaying first and second application windows in a desktop space, the first application window being active and configured with a default active visual state, and the second application window being inactive and configured with a default inactive visual state;

receiving a first command to change the default inactive visual state of the second application window;

changing the default inactive visual state of the second application window to a different inactive visual state, wherein the different inactive visual state is configured to express a higher need for attention than the default inactive visual state;

receiving a second command to change the different inactive visual state of the second application window; and

changing the different inactive visual state of the second application window to a second different inactive visual state, the second different inactive visual state being different from the default inactive visual state, wherein the second different inactive visual state is configured to express a higher need for attention than the different inactive visual state, wherein the different inactive visual state is indicated by an animation including a first number of animated bubbles displayed on and proximate to the second application window and the second different inactive visual state is indicated by an animation including a second number of animated bubbles displayed proximate to the second application window, and wherein the second number is larger than the first number.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of changing the different inactive visual state of the second application window occurs when a time threshold has been reached, and wherein the second application window is associated with a scheduling program.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising steps of:

receiving a third command to access the second application window; and

redisplaying the first and second application windows in the desktop space, the first application window being inactive and configured with the default inactive visual state, and the second application window being active and configured with the default active visual state.

19. A software architecture stored on one or more computer-storage media for processing data representative of a visual state of an application window, wherein the application window includes a frame and a content portion for displaying application content, comprising:

at least one component configured to change a visual state of an application window to one or more of a first inactive visual state, a second inactive visual state, and a third inactive visual state based on one or more events related to an application associated with the application window, wherein the first inactive visual state, the second inactive visual state, and the third inactive visual state are each configured to convey different degrees of urgency associated with the one or more events, wherein the first inactive visual state is indicated by an animation including a first number of animated bubbles displayed on and proximate to the second application window and the second inactive visual state is indicated by an animation including a second number of animated bubbles displayed proximate to the second application window, and wherein the second number is larger than the first number; and

at least one application program interface to access the at least one component;

upon changing the visual state of the second application window to the third inactive visual state, changing a corresponding visual state of an application window representation associated with the second application window to a third corresponding inactive visual state.