Method and apparatus for providing a three-dimensional task gallery computer interface

• US 8,856,687 B2
• Filed: 03/01/2011
• Issued: 10/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Robertson, George G., Czerwinski, Mary P., Hinckley, Kenneth P., Risden, Kirsten C., Robbins, Daniel C., van Dantzich, Maarten R.
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US13/037,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20110167379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,316 Days
• Field of Search: 715/782, 715/848, 715/849, 715/850, 715/851
• US Class Current: 715/848
• 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 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention provides a three-dimensional user interface for a computer system that allows a user to combine and store a group of windows as a task. The image of each task can be positioned within a three-dimensional environment such that the user may utilize spatial memory in order remember where a particular task is located.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

a processor displaying a three-dimensional space having a ceiling, a floor and at least one wall;

moving a task, comprising a snapshot of a collection of windows, toward the ceiling;

determining that the task has reached a ceiling area, based on a location of the task relative to the ceiling; and

changing the appearance of the task, based on the determination, such that the task appears to hang from the ceiling.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein moving a task toward the ceiling comprises moving a task along the wall.

3. The method of claim 1, and further comprising:

displaying a stand beneath the task, the stand visually connecting the task to the floor; and

expanding the stand as the task is moved away from the floor toward the ceiling, such that the stand continues to visually connect the task to the floor; and

wherein changing the appearance of the task comprises removing the stand from beneath the task.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein displaying a three-dimensional space further comprises displaying a stage area at an end of a hallway formed by the floor, ceiling and wall.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein changing the appearance of the task further comprises leaning a bottom of the task toward the stage.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

the processor moving the task back toward the wall;

changing the appearance of the task when it reaches the wall so that a stand appears below the task.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein changing the appearance when the task reaches the wall further comprises making the task more vertical than when it was on the ceiling.

8. A computer-readable storage memory having computer-readable instructions that cause a processor to perform steps comprising:

displaying a task comprising a snap shot of a plurality of windows at a stage area;

displaying movement of the task from the stage area toward a ceiling in a three-dimensional space;

determining that the task has reached a ceiling area, based on a location of the task relative to the ceiling; and

displaying a change in the appearance of the task, based on the determination, such that a bottom of the task leans toward the stage area.

9. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 8 wherein displaying a change in the appearance of the task further comprises making the task look as if it is hanging from the ceiling.

10. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 8 wherein displaying a change in the appearance of the task further comprises removing a stand from beneath the task.

11. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 8 wherein displaying movement of the task toward the ceiling comprises moving the task vertically along a wall toward the ceiling.

12. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 11 wherein the steps further comprise:

displaying movement of the task toward the wall; and

displaying a change in the appearance of the task after the task reaches the wall.

13. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 12 wherein displaying a change in the appearance of the task after the task reaches the wall comprises adding a stand beneath the task.

14. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 12 wherein the steps further comprise:

displaying movement of the task along the wall toward a floor;

displaying a change in the appearance of the task after the task reaches the floor, by showing one or more legs grow beneath the task.

15. The computer-readable storage memory of claim 8, wherein the three-dimensional space comprises a hallway formed by the ceiling, a floor, at least one side wall, and an end wall, wherein the stage area is located along the end wall.

16. A method comprising:

displaying a snap shot of one or more windows;

moving the snap shot down a wall toward a floor;

determining that the snap shot has reached a floor area, based on a location of the task relative to the floor; and

displaying, by a processor, one or more legs that grow beneath the snap shot, by each leg expanding in size, when the snap shot reaches the floor area.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising:

before the snap shot reaches the floor area;

moving the snap shot up the wall toward a ceiling; and

changing the appearance of the snap shot when it reaches the ceiling.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein changing the appearance of the snap shot when it reaches the ceiling comprises one or more of:

leaning a bottom of the snap shot toward a stage, or changing the appearance of the snap shot so that it looks like the snap shot is hanging from the ceiling.

19. The method of claim 16, wherein each leg has a length and a width, the width being smaller than the width of the snap shot, and wherein displaying the one or more legs that grow beneath the snap shot comprises:

increasing the length of each leg.

20. The method of claim 17 wherein changing the appearance of the snap shot when it reaches the ceiling comprises removing the one or more legs from beneath the snap shot.