Managing display of user interfaces

• US 8,225,227 B2
• Filed: 01/19/2007
• Issued: 07/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Headrick, Todd R., Gray, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Belousov, Andrey
• Application Number:
  US11/655,555
• Publication Number:
  US 20080178113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,006 Days
• Field of Search: 715/778, 715/707, 715/744, 715/745
• US Class Current: 715/778
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Managing a display of a user interface. In one implementation, a first user interface and an option to change the first user interface to a second user interface may be displayed. A selection of the option to change the first user interface to the second user interface may be received. In response, the second user interface may be displayed. In addition, a count of the number of times the request to change the first user interface to the second user interface is received may be kept. If the count is equal to a predetermined number, an option to set the second user interface as the default user interface may be displayed. If the option to set the second user interface as the default user interface is selected, the second user interface may then be set as the default user interface.

Claims

1. A method for managing a display of a user interface, comprising:

displaying as a user interface a first user interface to a user, wherein the first user interface is classified in a first class of user interfaces;

displaying an option to the user to change the user interface to a second user interface, wherein the second user interface is classified in a second class of user interfaces;

receiving a selection from the user of the option to change the user interface to the second user interface;

displaying the second user interface to the user in response to receiving the selection of the option to change the user interface to the second user interface;

keeping a count of a number of times the option to change the user interface to the second user interface is selected by the user;

displaying an option to the user to set the second user interface as a default user interface if the count is equal to a predetermined number; and

setting the second user interface as the default user interface if a selection of the option to set the second user interface as the default user interface is received from the user, wherein selection of the option to set the second user interface as the default user interface causes default user interfaces of a computing system to be changed to the second class of user interfaces.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the count to zero once the second user interface has been set as the default user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the count to zero if a selection of the option to set the second user interface as the default user interface is not received.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an option to change the user interface to the first user interface.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

receiving a request from the user to change the user interface to the first user interface; and

keeping a count of a number of times the request to change the user interface to the first user interface is received.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising providing an option to the user to set the first user interface as the default user interface, if the count of the number of times the request to change the user interface to the first user interface is equal to the predetermined number.

7. A computer-readable medium, the computer-readable medium not consisting of a propagating signal, the computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to:

display as a user interface a first user interface to a user, wherein the first user interface is classified in a first class of user interfaces;

display an option to the user to change the user interface to a second user interface, wherein the second user interface is classified in a second class of user interfaces;

receive a selection from the user of the option to change the user interface to the second user interface;

display the second user interface to the user in response to receiving the selection of the option to change the user interface to the second user interface;

keep a count of a number of times the option to change the user interface to the second user interface is selected by the user;

display an option to the user to set the second user interface as a default user interface if the count is equal to a predetermined number; and

set the second user interface as the default user interface if a selection of the option to set the second user interface as the default user interface is received from the user, wherein selection of the option to set the second user interface as the default user interface causes default user interfaces of a computing system to be changed to the second class of user interfaces.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to provide an option in the second user interface for the user to change the user interface to the first interface.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8, further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to keep a count of a number of times the option to change the user interface to the first user interface is selected by the user.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 9, further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to display an option to the user to set the first user interface as the default user interface, if the count of the number of times the option to change the user interface to the first user interface is equal to the predetermined number.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, further comprising computer-executable instructions which, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to set the count to zero if a selection of the option to set the second user interface as the default user interface is not received from the user.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 7, wherein the second user interface comprises more information than the first user interface.