Application-launching interface for multiple modes

• US 8,990,733 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2012
• Issued: 03/24/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Deutsch, Rebecca, Dukhon, Marina, Bahl, Varun, Miner, Patrice L., Miller, Jeffrey S., Betz, Benjamin A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadeese
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hope, Darrin
• Application Number:
  US13/656,574
• Publication Number:
  US 20130047117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 886 Days
• Field of Search: 715/835, 715/810, 715/764, 715/700
• US Class Current: 715/835
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/445 Program loading or initiating bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

This document describes techniques and apparatuses enabling an application-launching interface for multiple modes. This interface enables a user to quickly and easily select to launch applications associated with different modes. A user may avoid wading through multiple interfaces, making multiple selections, and/or a cognitive load associated with deciding on a mode with which to interact.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting labels associated with applications, the applications including at least a first application associated with a windows-based mode, the windows-based mode being a mode in which applications are presented within a frame, the frame having visual controls through which to move the applications, a second application associated with an immersive mode, the immersive mode being a mode in which applications are presented without a frame having visual controls through which to move the applications, and a third application associated with both the windows-based mode and the immersive mode, the third application associated with one of the labels, the one of the labels having an immersive indicator and a windows indicator;

receiving selection of a windows indicator or an immersive indicator of the one of the labels that is associated with the third application; and

responsive to selection of the windows indicator of the one of the labels that is associated with the third application, causing the third application to be launched within the windows-based mode and having a frame with visual controls, the visual controls enabling selection to move the third application;

or

responsive to selection of the immersive indicator of the one of the labels that is associated with the third application, causing the third application associated with the selected label to be launched within the immersive mode and without a frame having visual controls by which to move the third application.

2. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising receiving selection of a group having labels associated with the first application and the second application and, responsive to selection of the group, launching the first application in the immersive mode and the second application in the windows-based mode.

3. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 2, wherein launching the first application, launching the second application, and launching the third application launches the first application, the second application, and the third application onto a single display.

4. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein the selection of the windows indicator or the immersive indicator is a single mouse click, a single gesture, or a hot key.

5. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving selection of another label associated with the first application associated with the windows-based mode; and

responsive to selection of the other label, causing the first application associated with the other selected label to be launched within the windows-based mode.

6. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving selection of another label associated with the second application associated with the immersive mode; and

responsive to selection of the other label, causing the second application associated with the other selected label to be launched within the immersive mode.

7. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, wherein presenting labels associated with applications presents the labels within a single user interface and at one time.

8. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 1, further comprising automatically launching applications within a group responsive to a condition, the condition not including explicit selection to launch the application within the group.

9. A computer-implemented method as described in claim 8, wherein the condition includes:

a user logging into a computing device on a weekday or weekend, resumption of the computing device from a low-power mode, movement of the computing device, or a user-configured trigger.

10. A computing device comprising:

one or more computer processors; and

one or more computer-readable storage media having instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by the one or more computer processors, perform operations comprising;

presenting, in a single user interface and at one time, labels associated with applications of two different modes, the labels intermixed within the single user interface, the two different modes including an immersive mode the immersive mode being a mode in which applications are presented without a frame having visual controls through which to move the applications, and a desktop mode, the desktop mode being a mode in which applications are presented within a frame, the frame having visual controls through which to move the applications;

responsive to a first single selection of a first of the labels, the first of the labels associated with a respective one of the immersive mode or the desktop mode, causing a first interface of a first application with which the selected first label is associated to launch within the respective one of the immersive mode or the desktop mode and within a display; and

responsive to a second single selection of a second label associated with a different mode than that of the respective one of the immersive mode or desktop mode of the selected first label, causing a second interface of a second application with which the selected second label is associated to launch within the different mode on the display and with the first interface of the first application.

11. A computing device as described in claim 10, wherein the respective one of the immersive mode or the desktop mode is the immersive mode without a frame having visual controls by which to move the first application and the different mode is the desktop mode having a frame with visual controls, the visual controls enabling selection to move the second application and the display is split into two portions, one of the portions for interfaces launched in the immersive mode and the other of the portions for interfaces launched in the desktop mode.

12. A computing device as described in claim 10, wherein the first single selection is a single mouse click, a single gesture, or a hot key and the first single selection is the same to launch applications of the two different modes.

13. A computing device as described in claim 10, wherein at least one of the labels includes an indicator indicating which of the two different modes the application will be launched responsive to the single selection.

14. A computing device as described in claim 10, wherein:

presenting labels presents at least some of the labels in a group, the labels in the group associated with applications of the two different modes;

the single selection is selection of the group, the second application not contained in the group; and

causing the application to launch launches all of the applications of the group responsive to the single selection of the group.

15. A computing device as described in claim 14, wherein the labels in the group are included in the group responsive to explicit selection to group the labels, the explicit selection received through the single user interface.

16. A computing device as described in claim 14, wherein the labels in the group are included in the group based on a history of prior selections received through the single user interface.

17. One or more computer-readable storage media storing instructions that when executed by a computing device cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

presenting, in a single user interface, labels within a selectable group, the labels associated with applications, at least one of the applications associated with a windows-based mode in which applications are presented within a frame, the frame having visual controls through which to move the applications, and at least one of the applications associated with an immersive mode in which applications are presented without a frame having visual controls through which to move the applications; and

responsive to selection of the selectable group, causing the applications to launch within their respective modes at a same time, at least one of the applications to be presented in the window-based mode having a frame with visual controls, the visual controls enabling selection to move the application and in a first portion of a display and at least one other of the applications to be presented in the immersive mode without a frame having visual controls by which to move the other application and in a second portion of the display.

18. One or more computer-readable storage media as described in claim 17, wherein the at least one of the applications presented in the immersive mode is a first immersive application and causing the applications to launch within their respective modes at the same time causes a second immersive application of the applications to be presented:

in the immersive mode;

with the first immersive application in the second portion; and

in the second portion of the display without obscuring the first immersive application.

19. One or more computer-readable storage media as described in claim 17, wherein the instructions, when executed by the computing device, further cause the computing device, prior to the operation of presenting the labels within the selectable group, to enable selection of the labels to be placed into the selectable group.

20. One or more computer-readable storage media as described in claim 17, wherein the selection of the selectable group is received through a single gesture made to the selectable group and through the single user interface.