Controlling computer-based instances

• US 9,563,333 B2
• Filed: 04/10/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kaprani, Hema J., Peshave, Vinay V., Umbare, Anand G., Wadekar, Dinesh G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ulrich, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US14/249,800
• Publication Number:
  US 20140223371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,034 Days
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0487 using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/48 Program initiating; Program switching, e.g. by interrupt

Abstract

In general, embodiments of the present invention provide an approach to control computer-based interfaces from anywhere in a GUI (e.g. a window, a desktop, etc.) regardless of the fixed position of the instances. Specifically, using a pointing device or the like (e.g., by right clicking), a user can activate an instance control function that allows the user to open an instance, close an instance, and/or or switch between running instances. Along these lines, the instance control function can be activated by interacting with an icon, a window (e.g., corresponding a folder or a running instance), or a desktop. Once activated, the instance control function allows the user full control over instances.

Claims

1. A method for controlling computer-based instances, comprising:

receiving a selection of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) object within a GUI for a computer;

in response to the receiving, displaying an instance control function comprising a point of access to a window comprising instance categories;

determining whether an instance category of the instance categories is right-clicked or left-clicked;

if the determination is that the instance category is right clicked, displaying an option to launch a new instance corresponding to the instance category, receiving a selection of the option, and launching the new instance; and

if the determination is that the instance category is left-clicked, displaying a window comprising a list of computer-based instances corresponding to the instance category, receiving a selection of an instance from the list, wherein the selection indicates a desired action for the selected instance, and controlling the selected instance based upon the desired action.

2. The method of claim 1, the GUI object corresponding to at least one of the following:

an application, a file, or a folder.

3. The method of claim 1, the GUI object being at least one of the following:

a computer desktop or a title bar.

4. The method of claim 1, the GUI object being an icon.

5. The method of claim 4, the icon being located in at least one of the following locations within the GUI:

the computer desktop, a tool bar displayed on the computer desktop, or within a folder stored on the computer.

6. The method of claim 1, the desired action comprising at least one of the following:

closing the instance, switching to the instance, or launching a new instance.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a service solution provider provides a computer infrastructure that performs the method for one or more consumers.

8. A system for controlling computer-based instances, comprising:

a bus;

a processor coupled to the bus; and

a memory medium coupled to the bus, the memory medium comprising instructions to;

receive a selection of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) object within a GUI for a computer;

in response to the receiving, display an instance control function comprising a point of access to a window comprising instance categories;

determine whether an instance category of the instance categories is right-clicked or left-clicked;

if the determination is that the instance category is right clicked, display an option to launch a new instance corresponding to the instance category, receiving a selection of the option, and launching the new instance; and

if the determination is that the instance category is left-clicked, display a window comprising a list of computer-based instances corresponding to the instance category, receive a selection of an instance from the list, wherein the selection indicates a desired action for the selected instance, and control the selected instance based upon the desired action.

9. The system of claim 8, the selection of the GUI object comprising a right click of a pointing device.

10. The system of claim 8, the GUI object corresponding to at least one of the following:

an application, a file, or a folder.

11. The system of claim 8, the GUI object being at least one of the following:

an icon, a computer desktop, or a title bar.

12. The system of claim 11, the icon being located in at least one of the following locations within the GUI:

the computer desktop, a tool bar displayed on the computer desktop, or within a folder stored on the computer.

13. The system of claim 8, the desired action comprising at least one of the following:

closing the instance, switching to the instance, or launching a new instance.

14. A computer program product for controlling computer-based instances, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media, to:

receive a selection of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) object within a GUI for a computer;

in response to the receiving, display an instance control function comprising a point of access to a window comprising instance categories;

determine whether an instance category of the instance categories is right-clicked or left-clicked;

if the determination is that the instance category is right clicked, display an option to launch a new instance corresponding to the instance category, receiving a selection of the option, and launching the new instance; and

if the determination is that the instance category is left-clicked, display a window comprising a list of computer-based instances corresponding to the instance category, receive a selection of an instance from the list, wherein the selection indicates a desired action for the selected instance, and control the selected instance based upon the desired action.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, the selection of the GUI object comprising a right click of a pointing device.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, the GUI object corresponding to at least one of the following:

an application, a file, or a folder.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, the GUI object being at least one of the following:

an icon, a computer desktop, or a title bar.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, the icon being located in at least one of the following locations within the GUI:

the computer desktop, a tool bar displayed on the computer desktop, or within a folder stored on the computer.

19. The computer program product of claim 14, the desired action comprising at least one of the following:

closing the instance, switching to the instance, or launching a new instance.