Command user interface for displaying selectable software functionality controls

• US 9,223,477 B2
• Filed: 08/27/2012
• Issued: 12/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Harris, Jensen M., Butcher, Aaron M., Morton, David A., Satterfield, Jesse Clay, Denney, Justin
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Linh K
• Application Number:
  US13/595,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20120324394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,219 Days
• Field of Search: 715/779, 715/711, 715/841, 715/845, 715/843, 715/724
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls and for presenting logical groupings of particular functionality controls associated with a selected top-level functionality. Underneath a row of top-level functionality tabs, functionalities controls associated with a given top-level functionality tab are presented in logical groupings. Selection of a particular tab switches modes of the user interface to present controls for functionalities associated with the selected tab.

Claims

1. A method for providing an improved user interface at a display device, the method comprising:

organizing a plurality of software functionalities according to tasks to be performed by a software application, the tasks being identified by user interface tabs;

providing a first set of selectable controls associated with a first task organized under a first user interface tab, wherein the first set of selectable controls are displayed in a ribbon-shaped user interface;

receiving a selection of a second user interface tab; and

providing, in response to the selection of the second user interface tab, a second set of selectable controls associated with a second task organized under the second user interface tab in the ribbon-shaped user interface, the second set of selectable controls organized under the second user interface tab being displayed in place of the first set of selectable controls organized under the first user interface tab.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing the first set of controls associated with the first task organized under the first user interface tab comprises:

grouping the first set of controls associated with the first task into a first set of logical groupings, each of the logical groupings comprising subsets of the first set of selectable controls, and

displaying the first set of logical groupings organized under the first user interface tab.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying an additional selectable control within each logical grouping for selectively deploying an additional user interface configured to provide additional functionality associated with a corresponding logical grouping.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising providing a pop-up dialog upon receiving a mouse-over on the additional selectable control.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the additional selectable control; and

deploying, in response, the additional user interface for providing the additional functionality associated with the corresponding logical grouping.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a pop-up dialog upon receiving a mouse-over on any selectable control of the following:

the first set of selectable controls and the second set of selectable controls.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein providing, in response to the selection of the second user interface tab, the second set of selectable controls associated with the second task organized under the second user interface tab comprises:

grouping the second set of selectable controls associated with the second task into a second set of logical groupings comprising subsets of the second set of selectable controls, and

displaying the second set of logical groupings organized under the second user interface tab.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising, upon receiving an indication of a selection of one of the following:

the first set of selectable controls and the second set of selectable controls, applying functionality associated with the selectable controls.

9. A computer system for providing an improved user interface, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory for storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method, the method comprising;

organizing a plurality of software functionalities according to tasks to be performed by a software application, the tasks being identified textually by user interface tabs;

providing a first set of selectable controls associated with a first user interface tab, wherein the first set of selectable controls are displayed in a ribbon-shaped user interface, each selectable control being presented by at least one of the following;

a graphic representation and a textual representation; and

grouping the first set of selectable controls into a first set of logical groupings within the ribbon-shaped user interface, wherein each of the logical groupings combine a subset of first functionalities associated with the first user interface tab,

receiving an indication of a selection of a second user interface tab;

upon receiving the indication of the selection of the second user interface tab, replacing the first set of selectable controls with a second set of selectable controls associated with a second task organized under the second user interface tab in the ribbon-shaped user interface.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein providing, in response to the selection of the second user interface tab, the second set of selectable controls comprises:

grouping the second set of selectable controls into a second set of logical groupings combining a subset of second functionalities of the second set of selectable controls, and

displaying the second set of logical groupings organized under the second user interface tab.

11. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising displaying an additional selectable control within each logical grouping for selectively deploying an additional user interface for providing additional functionality associated with a corresponding logical grouping.

12. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising providing a pop-up dialog upon receiving a mouse-over on the additional selectable control.

13. The computer system of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a selection of the additional selectable control; and

deploying, in response, the additional user interface for providing the additional functionality associated with the corresponding logical grouping.

14. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising providing a pop-up dialog upon receiving a mouse-over on any selectable control of the first set of selectable controls.

15. The computer system of claim 9, further comprising, upon receiving an indication of a selection of one of the first set of selectable controls, applying functionality associated with the selected one of the selectable controls.

16. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the first set of logical groupings is identified with a textual label.

17. A method for providing an improved user interface at a display device, the method comprising:

providing a user interface tab for each of a plurality of tasks to be performed by a software application;

providing a first plurality of selectable controls for selecting functionalities associated with a first user interface tab, each selectable control being presented by a graphic representation and a textual representation;

grouping the first plurality of selectable controls into a first set of logical groupings, wherein each of the logical groupings combine a subset of first functionalities associated with the first user interface tab;

receiving an indication of a selection of a second user interface tab;

providing, upon receiving the indication of the selection of the second user interface tab, a second plurality of selectable controls for selecting functionalities, the second plurality of selectable controls being displayed in place of the first plurality of selectable controls; and

grouping the second plurality of selectable controls into a second set of logical groupings comprising subsets of the second set of selectable controls.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying an additional selectable control within each logical grouping for selectively deploying an additional user interface configured to provide additional functionality associated with a corresponding logical grouping.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising providing a pop-up dialog upon receiving a mouse-over on the additional selectable control.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising providing a pop-up dialog upon receiving a mouse-over on any selectable control of the following:

the first plurality of selectable controls and the second plurality of selectable controls.