Desktop management scheme
First Claim
1. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions for an icon-driven user interface for a computer system comprising:
- creating, after an icon associated a secondary application program is dragged and dropped over an icon associated with a main application program, a context icon, wherein a quick launch command asserted on the context icon causes launch of the main application program, andan interaction command asserted on the context icon causes the user interface to open a context menu displaying at least one entry corresponding to the secondary application program associated with the context icon, wherein a quick launch command asserted on a context menu entry causes a launch of the secondary application program corresponding to the asserted context menu entry.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention introduces a “contextual icon” to an icon-driven interface in which a single icon represents a shortcut to a suite of computer applications. The icon is associated with a single main application that may be invoked if an operator double-clicks on it or enters some other predetermined quick launch command. The desktop icon also may be associated with a context menu that reveals ancillary applications or tools that are related to the suite and typically are used less frequently than the main menu. The context menu may be opened with an ancillary interaction command (example: right clicking on the icon) and, thereafter, an operator may browse through and select an application from the context menu that may be desired. In this way, the contextual icon management scheme reduces desktop clutter while maintaining a highly intuitive navigation scheme among related applications.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer readable storage medium storing instructions for an icon-driven user interface for a computer system comprising:
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creating, after an icon associated a secondary application program is dragged and dropped over an icon associated with a main application program, a context icon, wherein a quick launch command asserted on the context icon causes launch of the main application program, and an interaction command asserted on the context icon causes the user interface to open a context menu displaying at least one entry corresponding to the secondary application program associated with the context icon, wherein a quick launch command asserted on a context menu entry causes a launch of the secondary application program corresponding to the asserted context menu entry. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer system, comprising:
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integrated processor, memory and display apparatus, the processor operating through program instructions to render an icon-based graphical user interface (GUI) via the display, creating, after an icon associated with a secondary application program is dragged and dropped over an icon associated with a main application program, a context icon therein providing navigation pathways to the main application program and the secondary application program, wherein a quick launch command asserted on the context icon causes launch of the main application program, an interaction command asserted on the context icon causes the user interface to open a context menu displaying at least one entry corresponding to the secondary application program associated with the context icon, and a quick launch command asserted on a context menu entry causes a launch of the secondary application program corresponding to the asserted context menu entry. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A management method for an icon-based user interface of a computer system, comprising:
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when a first icon associated with a first application program of the user interface is moved over a second icon associated with a second application program by a drag and drop operation, replacing the first and second icons with a context icon, the context icon having command pathways to each of the application programs formerly represented by the icons, wherein a quick launch command asserted on the context icon causes launch of the main application program, an interaction command asserted on the context icon causes the user interface to open a context menu displaying at least one entry corresponding to the secondary application program associated with the context icon, and a quick launch command asserted on a context menu entry causes a launch of the secondary application program corresponding to the asserted context menu entry. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A management method for an icon-based user interface of a computer system, comprising:
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creating, after a first icon associated with a secondary application program is dragged and dropped over a second icon associated with a main application program, a context icon replacing the first and second icons, the context icon having command pathways to the main application program and the secondary application program, wherein a quick launch command asserted on the context icon causes launch of the main application program, an interaction command asserted on the context icon causes the user interface to open a context menu displaying at least one entry corresponding to the secondary application program associated with the context icon, and a quick launch command asserted on a context menu entry causes a launch of the secondary application program corresponding to the asserted context menu entry. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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Specification