Third party service switching through command bar user interface

• US 7,941,761 B2
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Issued: 05/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cain, Jonathan M., Hally, Judson Craig, Goade, Richard S., Anderson, W. Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): England; Sara
• Assistant Examiner(s): ABDUL-ALI, OMAR R
• Application Number:
  US10/993,976
• Publication Number:
  US 20050246654A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,363 Days
• Field of Search: 715/779, 715/826, 715/749, 715/840
• US Class Current: 715/779
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A graphical user interface allows users to access multiple third party services (e.g., online media services) and enables the services to provide functionality within the GUI adjacent to core functionality of a host application (e.g., a media player application, operating system shell, etc.). The GUI provides an interface region for third party service functionality that is distinct from, but equal in exposure and prominence to, the core functionality provided by the application hosting the GUI. The GUI enables seamless switching between a list of available services provided in a service menu. Switching between services replaces service function buttons and service branding according to particular service customizations.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a host graphical user interface including a display device and a user interface selection device, a method of switching between a plurality of online services from within the host graphical user interface, the method comprising:

displaying a media player graphical window that includes a single tool bar having both a host application function area and a service function area, the host application function area having application buttons to control functions of a host application for processing a media content, the service function area indicating an active online service for providing the media content, an active online service brand icon, service buttons to control functions associated with the active online service, and a service list menu button to display a list of valid online services and service brand icons from an all-services file;

receiving the user input indicating a selection of the service list menu button;

in response to the selection of the service list menu button, displaying the list of valid online services and online service brand icons;

receiving the user input indicating the selection of a different online service from the list of valid online services;

in response to the selection of the different online service, switching the active online service to the different online service, wherein the different online service hosts a corresponding service information file for the different online service, wherein each service file manages customization of a media player;

altering the service buttons and providing an associated service brand icon in accordance with the customization of the different online service; and

altering an appearance of the service function area in response to the selection of the service button, wherein the altering of the appearance is selected from the group comprising;

highlighting the service function area;

changing a color of the service function area;

adjusting a texture of the service function area; and

adjusting a background intensity level within the service function area.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein altering the service buttons comprises changing the service buttons such that they control functions associated with the selected online service.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input indicating a selection of an application button from the application function area; and

in response to the selected application button, altering the appearance of the selected application button to indicate an active application function.

4. A processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured to display a host graphical user interface on a display device and to manage the host graphical user interface in response to user input provided through an interface selection device, the host graphical user interface comprising:

a single command bar providing access to both a host application function area and a service function area on a single row of the command bar;

application buttons located within the host application function area to control functions of a host application;

service buttons located within the service function area to control functions associated with a currently active online media service hosted by the host application;

a service list menu button in the service function area to control switching between a plurality of online media services from within the host application, wherein the plurality of online media services host a corresponding service information file for the plurality of online services.

5. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 4, the graphical user interface further comprising:

a branding icon displayed within the service function area to identify a currently active online media service.

6. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 4, wherein the host application is selected from the group comprising:

a media player application;

an operating system; and

an operating system shell.

7. A computer comprising the processor-readable storage medium of claim 4.

8. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 4, the graphical user interface further comprising:

branding icons displayed with the plurality of online media services upon selection of the service list menu button in the service function area.

9. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 5, the graphical user interface further comprising:

the branding icon displayed within the service function area switching to represent one of the plurality of online media services selected from the service list menu button.

10. A processor-readable storage medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

displaying a single user interface command bar having a host application region to control functions of a media player application, and a media service region to control functions associated with a currently active media service, wherein the displaying comprises displaying application buttons in the host application region to control functions of the media player application and displaying service buttons in the media service region to control functions of the currently active media service;

providing access to a list of media services through a service list menu button within the media service region, wherein the providing access to a plurality of media services comprises;

receiving a user input indicating the service list menu button has been selected; and

in response to the selection of the service list menu button, displaying the list of media services;

switching from the currently active media service to a newly active media service in response to a selection made from the list of media services, wherein the newly active media service hosts a corresponding service information file for the newly active media service; and

further processor-executable instructions configured for altering an appearance of the media service region whenever a function within the media service region is active, wherein altering the appearance of the media service region is selected from the group comprising;

highlighting the media service region;

changing a color of the media service region;

adjusting a texture of the media service region; and

adjusting a background intensity level within the media service region.

11. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the switching from the currently active media service to a newly active media service comprises:

receiving a user input indicating a particular media service has been selected from the list of media services; and

in response to the selection of the particular media service, switching from the currently active media service to the particular media service, making the particular media service the newly active media service.

12. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 10 comprising further processor-executable instructions configured for altering the appearance of a service button within the media service region whenever the service button has been activated to control a function of the currently active media service.

13. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 12, wherein altering the appearance of a service button is selected from the group comprising:

highlighting the service button;

changing a color of the service button;

adjusting a texture of the service button; and

adjusting a background intensity level of the service button.

14. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 10 comprising further processor-executable instructions configured for altering the appearance of the host application region whenever a function within the host application region is active.

15. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 14, wherein altering the appearance of the host application region is selected from the group comprising:

highlighting the host application region;

changing a color of the host application region;

adjusting a texture of the host application region; and

adjusting a background intensity level within the host application region.

16. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 10 comprising further processor-executable instructions configured for altering the appearance of an application button within the host application region whenever the application button has been activated to control a function of the media player application.

17. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 16, wherein altering the appearance of an application button is selected from the group comprising:

highlighting the application button;

changing a color of the application button;

adjusting a texture of the application button; and

adjusting a background intensity level of the application button.

18. A processor-readable storage medium as recited in claim 10, wherein the switching from the currently active media service to the newly active media service comprises:

altering the appearance of the media service region and buttons within the media service region in accordance with a service information file retrieved from the newly active media service; and

changing a branding icon displayed within the media service region from one identifying the currently active media service to one identifying the newly active media service.

19. A computer comprising the processor-readable storage medium of claim 10.

20. A computer comprising:

a display device;

a media player application;

a user interface manager configured to manage and display a single host graphical user interface on the display device, wherein the media player application hosts an active online media service provider from which a media content can be obtained and the single host graphical user interface provides user access to functionality of both the media player application and the active online media service provider, the single host graphical user interface enables the active online media service provider to customize portions of the single host graphical user interface; and

a user interface selection device enabling a user to switch the active online media service provider to a different online media service provider by using the user interface selection device to select between a plurality of online media service providers listed in a service menu on the single host graphical user interface, wherein the different online media service provider retrieves a corresponding service information file for managing customization of the media player application for the different online media service provider.

21. A computer as recited in claim 20, further comprising a command bar within the single host graphical user interface that includes a media player application function region having selectable media player application function buttons and a service function region having selectable service function buttons, wherein the user interface manager enables the active online media service provider to customize the service function region.