Live companion user interface
First Claim
1. A method performed on a computing device, the method comprising:
- detecting, by a companion application based on monitoring a host application, data from among actions and events of the host application, data generated by the host application, data provided by the host application, and selections of elements in a host window of a host user interface of the host application, where the companion application and the host application are each computer programs that are distinct from the other, and where the host application is substantially unaware of the companion application;
obtaining, by the companion application based on the detecting, metadata that is different than the detected data, and that is descriptive of data displayed by the host application in the host window, where the companion application is configured for obtaining the metadata from an operating environment comprising the computing device and an operating system of the computing device, and where the computing device concurrently executes the host application and the companion application; and
displaying, by the companion application, the obtained metadata in a companion window of a companion user interface of the companion application.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method provide a companion application via a companion application corresponding to a host window provided by a host application, the companion window providing information or metadata descriptive of data in the host window. The host application and companion applications may be separate applications such that the host application is unaware of the companion application. The companion application may hook into the host application (e.g., via an application programming interface) and may monitor host application activities and/or data. Based on identification of data or events in the host application, the companion application may obtain information characterizing or providing a context for data provided by the host application. The host window and companion window may be attached to each other, the host window providing host application data and the companion window providing data describing the host application data.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method performed on a computing device, the method comprising:
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detecting, by a companion application based on monitoring a host application, data from among actions and events of the host application, data generated by the host application, data provided by the host application, and selections of elements in a host window of a host user interface of the host application, where the companion application and the host application are each computer programs that are distinct from the other, and where the host application is substantially unaware of the companion application; obtaining, by the companion application based on the detecting, metadata that is different than the detected data, and that is descriptive of data displayed by the host application in the host window, where the companion application is configured for obtaining the metadata from an operating environment comprising the computing device and an operating system of the computing device, and where the computing device concurrently executes the host application and the companion application; and displaying, by the companion application, the obtained metadata in a companion window of a companion user interface of the companion application. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. At least one computer storage media that is an article of manufacture and that stores computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising:
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detecting, by a companion application based on monitoring a host application, data from among actions and events of the host application, data generated by the host application, data provided by the host application, and selections of elements in a host window of a host user interface of the host application, where the companion application and the host application are each computer programs that are distinct from the other, and where the host application is substantially unaware of the companion application; obtaining, by the companion application based on the detecting, metadata that is different than the detected data, and that is descriptive of data displayed by the host application in the host window, where the companion application is configured for obtaining the metadata from an operating environment comprising the computing device and an operating system of the computing device, and where the computing device concurrently executes the host application and the companion application; and displaying, by the companion application, the obtained metadata in a companion window of a companion user interface of the companion application. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A system comprising a computing device and at least one program module together configured for performing actions comprising:
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detecting, by a companion application based on monitoring a host application, from among actions and events of the host application, data generated by the host application, data provided by the host application, and selections of elements in a host window of a host user interface of the host application, where the companion application and the host application are each computer programs that are distinct from the other, and where the host application is substantially unaware of the companion application; obtaining, by the companion application based on the detecting, metadata that is different than the detected data, and that is descriptive of data displayed by the host application in the host window, where the companion application is configured for obtaining the metadata from an operating environment comprising the computing device and an operating system of the computing device, and where the computing device concurrently executes the host application and the companion application; and displaying, by the companion application, the obtained metadata in a companion window of a companion user interface of the companion application. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification