Methods and apparatus for controlling a plurality of applications

• US 7,624,351 B2
• Filed: 10/02/2002
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/02/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Verizon Corporate Services Group Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Mesterharm, Edmund D., Dillon, Mark K., Unger, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu; Tadesse
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHAUDHURI, ANITA
• Application Number:
  US10/261,593
• Publication Number:
  US 20030071851A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,610 Days
• Field of Search: 715/841, 715/853, 715/810, 715/835, 715/779, 715/804, 715/781, 715/845, 715/864, 715/762, 715/718
• US Class Current: 715/763
• 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

Methods and apparatus are provided to control a plurality of applications on a computer having a graphical user interface using a control application installed in addition to an operating system of the computer. An object, representing the control application and having a first sensitive area, is displayed within the graphical user interface. A first user input is received at the first sensitive area on the object. A window slides from the object and includes a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of applications while the first sensitive area continues to be displayed. A second user input is received in the window corresponding to at least one of the plurality of icons. At least one of the applications is then controlled based on the second user input.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a plurality of applications on a computer having a graphical user interface using a control application installed in addition to an operating system of the computer, comprising:

displaying an object, representing the control application and having a first sensitive area, within the graphical user interface;

receiving a first user input at the first sensitive area on the object;

sliding, from the object, a first window having a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of applications while continuing to display the first sensitive area;

receiving a second user input in the first window corresponding to at least one of the plurality of icons;

sliding, from the object, a second window displaying information associated with the at least one of the plurality of icons while continuing to display the first window; and

controlling at least one of the applications based on the second user input,

wherein receiving a third user input at a second sensitive area on the object results in the object closing and a tool tray state icon appearing or results in the object minimizing and a tab state icon appearing.

2. A computer-readable storage-type medium capable of configuring a computer to perform method of controlling a plurality of applications on a computer having a graphical user interface using a control application installed in addition to an operating system of the computer, comprising:

program code for displaying an object, representing the control application and having a first sensitive area, within the graphical user interface;

program code for receiving a first user input at the first sensitive area on the object;

program code for sliding, from the object, a first window having a plurality of icons corresponding to the plurality of applications while continuing to display the first sensitive area;

program code for receiving a second user input in the first window corresponding to at least one of the plurality of icons;

program code for sliding, from the object, a second window displaying information associated with the at least one of the plurality of icons white continuing to display the first window;

program code for controlling at least one of the applications based on the second user input, and

program code for receiving a third user input at a second sensitive area on the object which results in the object closing and a tool tray state icon appearing or results in the object minimizing and a tab state icon appearing.

3. A device, comprising:

a display; and

a processor interfacing the display based on an operating system and a graphical user interface, and configured to;

display an object, representing a control application installed in addition to the operating system and having a first sensitive area, within the graphical user interface,

receive a first user input at the first sensitive area on the object,

slide, from the object, a first window having a plurality of icons corresponding to a plurality of applications while continuing to display the first sensitive area,

receive a second user input in the first window corresponding to at least one of the plurality of icons,

slide, from the object, a second window displaying information associated with the at least one of the plurality of icons while continuing to display the first window,

control at least one of the applications based on the second user input; and

receive a second user input at a third sensitive area on the object which results in the object closing and a tool tray state icon appearing or results in the object minimizing and a tab state icon appearing.