Operating system program launch menu search
First Claim
1. One or more computer storage device storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for providing a program launch menu, the method comprising steps of:
- (a) displaying a program launch menu on a display device of a computer system, said program launch menu capable of displaying, within the original confines thereof, at least three views without linking to a different page or a different window;
i) a first view for displaying all application programs in a user-navigable structure,ii) a second view for displaying most commonly used selectable items including a most recently viewed item and a most recently used item, wherein the most commonly used selectable items are determined by an algorithm that adds usage points to an item when an item is selected and decays usage points over a period of time when the item is not selected during the period of time, wherein the item has a type, and wherein the algorithm determines the number of usage points based at least in part on the type of the item, andiii) a third view for displaying search results comprising selectable items matching text input received from a user via a search interface displayed within the program launch menu;
(b) upon receiving user input via a view selection control, transitioning between the first and second views when no text input is in the search text input interface; and
(c) automatically displaying the third view whenever text input is received via the search text input interface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An operating system program launch menu, such as a Start menu, provides various mechanisms for a user to quickly and efficiently locate and launch desired data items such as programs, data files, storage locations, and the like. A search box within the program launch menu may be used to quickly locate programs, documents, communications, and other data items. An auto-complete feature may be used, e.g., when the user restricts the locations searched for the user-entered search text. A most commonly used program list may include programs based on various criteria including both frequency of use and recent use, thereby always including a most recently used item. An all programs view may display programs and documents in a hosted-tree view within the original confines of the program launch menu, thereby negating the need to open sub-menus on top of a large portion of the desktop displayed on the display device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. One or more computer storage device storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, perform a method for providing a program launch menu, the method comprising steps of:
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(a) displaying a program launch menu on a display device of a computer system, said program launch menu capable of displaying, within the original confines thereof, at least three views without linking to a different page or a different window; i) a first view for displaying all application programs in a user-navigable structure, ii) a second view for displaying most commonly used selectable items including a most recently viewed item and a most recently used item, wherein the most commonly used selectable items are determined by an algorithm that adds usage points to an item when an item is selected and decays usage points over a period of time when the item is not selected during the period of time, wherein the item has a type, and wherein the algorithm determines the number of usage points based at least in part on the type of the item, and iii) a third view for displaying search results comprising selectable items matching text input received from a user via a search interface displayed within the program launch menu; (b) upon receiving user input via a view selection control, transitioning between the first and second views when no text input is in the search text input interface; and (c) automatically displaying the third view whenever text input is received via the search text input interface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for transitioning views within a program launch menu without linking to a different page or a different window, the method initiating at any step, and comprising steps of:
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a) displaying, within the program launch menu, a first view comprising a navigable user interface comprising all application programs selectable by a user of a computer system on which the program launch menu is displayed, wherein upon receiving user input via a view selection control, the method proceeds to step b) when no text input is in a search interface displayed within the program launch menu, and wherein upon receiving text input in the search interface, the method proceeds to step c); b) displaying, within the program launch menu and without linking to a different page or a different window, a second view comprising commonly used user-selectable items including a most recently viewed item and a most recently used item, wherein the commonly used user-selectable items are determined by an algorithm that adds usage points to an item when an item is selected, subtracts usage points when an item is not selected, and increments usage points for the most recently viewed item to a value greater than one other item in the commonly used user-selectable items, wherein the item has a type, and wherein the algorithm determines the number of usage points based at least in part on the type of the item, wherein upon receiving user input via the view selection control, the method proceeds to step a) when no text input is in the search interface, and wherein upon receiving text input in the search interface, the method proceeds to step c); and c) displaying, within the program launch menu and without linking to a different page or a different window, a third view comprising search results of selectable items matching text input received from a user via the search interface, wherein upon clearing the text input from the search interface, the method proceeds to one of steps a) and b). - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. One or more computer storage device storing computer readable instructions that, when executed, provide a program launch menu user interface for displaying on a display device operatively connected to a computer system executing the computer readable instructions, said program launch menu having elements comprising:
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a first display area that displays user selectable items filtered by predefined criteria based on a current display state of the first display area; a search input region for receiving user input to use as a basis for searching user-selectable items identifiable by an operating system of the computer system, wherein when input is received in the search input region the first display area transitions to a third display state without linking to a different page or a different window; and a user-selectable view selection element which, when selected by the user while no input is in the search input region, transitions the first display area between a first display state and a second display state without linking to a different page or a different window, wherein a predefined criteria of the first display state results in displaying all user-selectable items organized in a user navigable structure displayed in the first display area, wherein a predefined criteria of the second display state results in displaying commonly used selectable items selected from a list generated by an algorithm that; (1) adds and subtracts usage points when items are selected and not selected, respectively, (2) breaks any usage ties by considering usage dates of the items, and wherein a predefined criteria of the third state comprises the received user input. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification