Application-centric user interface techniques

• US 7,846,023 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2003
• Issued: 12/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Johnston, G. Andrew II, Evans, C. Shane, Toll, Roderick M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coburn; Corbett B
• Application Number:
  US10/402,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20040192440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,812 Days
• Field of Search: 463/42
• US Class Current: 463/42
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/48 Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/493 Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/533 for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/77 involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/792 for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/795 for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/209 characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/308 Details of the user interface
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/5513 involving billing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/552 for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/556 Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/572 Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/636 involving process of starting or resuming a game
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/60 Editing figures and text; Combining figures or text

Abstract

Various application-centric user interface techniques are described. A user can easily launch, add, or update applications. An application-centric activity center can be presented as part of a user interface for an operating system shell. A file defining metadata for an application can be defined. The techniques can be applied to game-related software.

Claims

1. A software system operable for execution at a computer and encoded on a physical computer-readable medium, the software system comprising:

an operating system shell operable to present an application-centric graphical user interface presentation, the application-centric graphical user interface presentation comprising;

an area of the interface comprising graphical depictions of a plurality of executable applications, wherein the area is limited to executable applications selected to match a predetermined application type, and displayed in the area regardless of their location on or off of the computer, at least a portion of the graphical depictions being at least partly based upon information obtained via the Internet;

a plurality of selectable task items performable for the executable applications and selected to be displayed based upon the predetermined application type, the plurality of selectable task items including;

executing one or more of the executable applications,

continuing a last saved game,

initiating one or more of the executable applications in a multi-user mode,

initiating one or more of the executable applications in the multi-user mode with at least a specifically identified list of other users,

review updates for one or more of the executable applications,

install updates for one or more of the executable applications,

view saved games for one or more of the executable applications,

search for new games,

visit an online forum, online community or online chat room for one or more of the executable applications,

uninstall one or more of the executable applications,

go to a webpage for one or more of the executable applications,

check compatibility information for one or more of the executable applications,

check security information for one or more of the executable applications, and

view usage history for one or more of the executable applications, the usage history including when the one or more executable applications was executed, how long the one or more executable applications was executed, and how often the one or more executable applications was executed;

a recommended capability rating for a first application of the plurality of applications;

a minimum capability rating for the first application;

a capability rating for the computer displayed with the recommended capability rating and the minimum capability rating;

a plurality of connection quality indications corresponding to the connection quality of one or more other users, the one or more other users having installed at least one multi-player capable gaming application that is also installed on the computer; and

a graphical depiction of an application situation occurring when the first application is saved;

an information area, the information area displaying links to information made available within a threshold amount of time; and

an application metadata store operable to store a plurality of application metadata files indicative of information on a plurality of associated applications.

2. The software system of claim 1 wherein the application-centric graphical user interface presentation presents status information indicating whether remote users listed in a buddy list are now playing a selected game.

3. The software system of claim 2 wherein the application-centric graphical user interface presentation presents an option to join the selected game played by the remote users.

4. The software system of claim 1 wherein the application-centric graphical user interface presentation presents an option to play a selected game with one or more remote users.

5. The software system of claim 4 wherein electronic contact information for the one or more remote users is stored in a contact database accessible by the operating system shell.

6. The software system of claim 5 wherein the system is operable to contact the remote users and start the selected game with the remote users as co-players.

7. The software system of claim 1 wherein the application metadata store is operable to store at least one application metadata file for an application not yet installed at the computer.

8. The software system of claim 7 wherein the application metadata file for an application not yet installed at the computer comprises:

a link to a location from which a demonstration version of the application can be obtained.

9. The software system of claim 7 wherein the application metadata file for an application not yet installed at the computer comprises:

a link to a location from which information about the application can be obtained.

10. The software system of claim 7 wherein the application metadata file for an application not yet installed at the computer comprises:

a link to a location at which the application can be purchased electronically.

11. A software system operable for execution at a computer and encoded on a physical computer-readable medium, the software system comprising:

operating system means operable to present an application-centric graphical user interface presentation, the application-centric graphical user interface presentation comprising;

an area of the interface comprising graphical depictions of a plurality of executable applications, wherein the area is limited to executable applications selected to match a predetermined application type, and displayed in the area regardless of their location on or off of the computer;

a plurality of selectable task items performable for the executable applications and selected to be displayed based upon the predetermined application type;

a recommended capability rating for a first application of the plurality of executable applications;

a minimum capability rating for the first application;

a capability rating for the computer; and

a graphical depiction of an application situation occurring when the first application is saved; and

means operable to store a plurality of application metadata files indicative of information on a plurality of associated applications.