System and method for changing system modes

• US 9,037,992 B2
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Issued: 05/19/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Callanan, Sean, O'Sullivan, Patrick Joseph, Srikanth, Hema, Zimmet, Carol Sue
• Primary Examiner(s): TITCOMB, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US12/344,788
• Publication Number:
  US 20100169820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,332 Days
• Field of Search: 715/718, 715/778, 715/716
• US Class Current: 715/778
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus

Abstract

A method, computer program product, and computing system for providing a graphical user interface via an operating system. The graphical user interface may be configured to permit a user to define a plurality of modes, one of the modes being a current mode. The method may also include permitting a user to select an updated mode of the plurality of modes, the updated mode being different from the current mode. The computer-implemented method may further include transmitting a message indicating that the updated mode has been selected to a configuration interface associated with at least one application running on the operating system. Numerous other variations and embodiments are also included within the scope of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing, by a computing device, a graphical user interface via an operating system, the graphical user interface configured to permit a user to define a plurality of system modes, wherein each of the plurality of system modes is associated with at least one predefined setting of a plurality of applications, wherein the plurality of applications includes at least two of an email client, a VPN client, an instant messaging client, and a calendar client;

receiving, by the computing device, a selection of a first system mode and a second system mode of the plurality of system modes from the user, the second system mode having a different at least one predefined setting of the plurality of applications from the first system mode;

transmitting, by the computing device, a system message to the plurality of applications indicating that the first system mode and the second system mode have been selected;

applying, by the computing device, changes to the at least one predefined setting of the plurality of applications responsive to the received system message based on the first system mode and the second system mode being selected simultaneously, including activating or deactivating the plurality of applications based on a predetermined specified order of precedence of activation or deactivation of the plurality of applications in the event of a conflict between the first system mode and the second system mode, wherein the predetermined specified order of precedence is specified prior to the conflict between the first system mode and the second system mode; and

sharing, by the computing device, at least one of the defined plurality of system modes with at least one other user associated with a different computing device.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein the at least one predefined setting of the second system mode is associated with a second computing device.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising permitting an administrator to set at least one of the plurality of system modes remotely.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising changing between two of the plurality of system modes on a scheduled basis.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1 further comprising updating at least one of the plurality of system modes based upon a calendar event.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5 wherein updating at least one of the plurality of system modes based upon the calendar event includes updating at least one of the plurality of system modes if the calendar event indicates a type of event.

7. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

providing a graphical user interface via an operating system, the graphical user interface configured to permit a user to define a plurality of system modes, wherein each of the plurality of system modes is associated with at least one predefined setting of a plurality of applications, wherein the plurality of applications includes at least two of an email client, a VPN client, an instant messaging client, and a calendar client;

receiving a selection of a first system mode and a second system mode of the plurality of system modes from the user, the second system mode having a different at least one predefined setting of the plurality of applications from the first system mode;

transmitting a system message to the plurality of applications indicating that the first system mode and the second system mode have been selected;

applying changes to the at least one predefined setting of the plurality of applications responsive to the received system message based on the first system mode and the second system mode being selected simultaneously, including activating or deactivating the plurality of applications based on a predetermined specified order of precedence of activation or deactivation of the plurality of applications in the event of a conflict between the first system mode and the second system mode, wherein the predetermined specified order of precedence is specified prior to the conflict between the first system mode and the second system mode; and

sharing at least one of the defined plurality of system modes with at least one other user associated with a different computing device.

8. The computer program product of claim 7 further wherein the at least one predefined setting of the second system mode is associated with a second computing device.

9. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising instructions for permitting an administrator to set at least one of the plurality of system modes remotely.

10. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising instructions for changing between two of the plurality of system modes on a scheduled basis.

11. The computer program product of claim 7 further comprising instructions for updating at least one of the plurality of system modes based upon a calendar event.

12. The computer program product of claim 11 wherein updating at least one of the plurality of system modes based upon the calendar event includes updating at least one of the plurality of system modes if the calendar event indicates a type of event.

13. A computing system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory architecture coupled with the at least one processor;

a first software module executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture, wherein the first software module is configured to provide a graphical user interface via an operating system, the graphical user interface configured to permit a user to define a plurality of system modes, wherein each of the plurality of system modes is associated with at least one predefined setting of a plurality of applications, wherein the plurality of applications includes at least two of an email client, a VPN client, an instant messaging client, and a calendar client;

a second software module executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture, wherein the second software module is configured to receive a selection of a first system mode and a second system mode of the plurality of system modes, the second system mode having a different at least one predefined setting of the plurality of applications from the first system mode;

a third software module executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture, wherein the third software module is configured to transmit a system message to the plurality of applications indicating that the first system mode and the second system mode have been selected;

a fourth software module executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture, wherein the fourth software module is configured to apply changes to the at least one predefined setting of the plurality of applications responsive to the received system message based on the first system mode and the second system mode being selected simultaneously, including activating or deactivating the plurality of applications based on a predetermined specified order of precedence of activation or deactivation of the plurality of applications in the event of a conflict between the first system mode and the second system mode, wherein the predetermined specified order of precedence is specified prior to the conflict between the first system mode and the second system mode; and

a fifth software module executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture, wherein the fifth software module is configured to share at least one of the defined plurality of system modes with at least one other user associated with a different computing device.

14. The computing system of claim 13, wherein the at least one predefined setting of the second system mode is associated with a second computing device.

15. The computing system of claim 13 further comprising a sixth software module executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture, wherein the sixth software module is configured to permit an administrator to set at least one of the plurality of system modes remotely.

16. The computing system of claim 13 further comprising an eighth software module executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture, wherein the eighth software module is configured to update at least one of the plurality of system modes based upon a calendar event.

17. The computing system of claim 16 wherein updating at least one of the plurality of system modes based upon the calendar event includes updating at least one of the plurality of system modes if the calendar event indicates a type of event.