User interface for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object
First Claim
1. A method for providing a user interface for a software application, the method comprising:
- displaying in a ribbon-shaped interface for the software application, a first section comprising selectable top-level functionality tabs associated with a task-based functionality of the software application;
upon receiving a selection of one of the top-level functionality tabs, displaying in the ribbon-shaped user interface, a second section containing a first set of selectable controls organized underneath a currently selected top-level functionality tab, wherein the first set of selectable controls corresponds to the task-based functionality of the currently selected top-level functionality tab, at least one of the selectable controls within the first set of selectable controls is presented as a graphic representation and a textual representation, and the second section persists during editing of the electronic document;
displaying underneath the ribbon-shaped user interface, a third section for displaying and editing at least a portion of an electronic document;
receiving an indication to insert an object from the software application into the portion of the electronic document displayed in the third section;
inserting the object into the portion of the electronic document displayed in the third section; and
in response to inserting the object, displaying adjacent to the selectable top-level functionality tabs, during the editing of the object in the electronic document, an additional top-level functionality tab in the first section, the additional tab corresponding to software functionality associated with editing the selected object in the electronic document, wherein the additional top-level functionality tab was not displayed prior to insertion of the object.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain visibly available for use while the selected object is being edited. Upon selection of a particular object for editing, functionality available for editing the object is presented in a ribbon-shaped user interface above the software application workspace to allow the user ready and efficient access to functionality needed for editing the selected object. The display of relevant functionality controls is persisted until the user dismisses the display, selects another top-level functionality control or selects another object for editing.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for providing a user interface for a software application, the method comprising:
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displaying in a ribbon-shaped interface for the software application, a first section comprising selectable top-level functionality tabs associated with a task-based functionality of the software application; upon receiving a selection of one of the top-level functionality tabs, displaying in the ribbon-shaped user interface, a second section containing a first set of selectable controls organized underneath a currently selected top-level functionality tab, wherein the first set of selectable controls corresponds to the task-based functionality of the currently selected top-level functionality tab, at least one of the selectable controls within the first set of selectable controls is presented as a graphic representation and a textual representation, and the second section persists during editing of the electronic document; displaying underneath the ribbon-shaped user interface, a third section for displaying and editing at least a portion of an electronic document; receiving an indication to insert an object from the software application into the portion of the electronic document displayed in the third section; inserting the object into the portion of the electronic document displayed in the third section; and in response to inserting the object, displaying adjacent to the selectable top-level functionality tabs, during the editing of the object in the electronic document, an additional top-level functionality tab in the first section, the additional tab corresponding to software functionality associated with editing the selected object in the electronic document, wherein the additional top-level functionality tab was not displayed prior to insertion of the object. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer-readable storage device having a set of instructions which when executed perform a method for providing a user interface for a software application, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:
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displaying in a ribbon-shaped interface a first section comprising selectable tabs associated with tasks of the software application; upon receiving a selection of one of the selectable tabs, displaying adjacent to the first section in the ribbon-shaped interface, a second section containing a first set of selectable controls associated with a currently selected tab, wherein the first set of selectable controls correspond to a task of the currently selected tab, at least one of the selectable controls within the first set of selectable controls is presented as a graphic representation and a textual representation, and the second section persists during editing of an electronic document; receiving a selection of an object inserted within the displayed electronic document; and in response to receiving the selection of the object, displaying, during editing of the selected object, an additional tab in the first section corresponding to additional software functionality for editing the selected object from the software application. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A system for providing a user interface for a software application, the system comprising:
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a processor; a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory storing computer-readable instructions that when executed by the processor cause the computing device to; display a first section comprising selectable controls for general file commands associated with the software application; display, adjacent to the first section, a second section comprising selectable tabs associated with task-based functionality of the software application; display, underneath the second section, a third section comprising a first set of selectable controls associated with a currently selected tab; organize the first set of selectable controls into subsets of selectable controls having a common underlying task; organize the subsets of selectable controls into logical groupings, each logical grouping comprising a heading representing the underlying task of its corresponding subset of controls; and display, underneath the third section, a fourth section for editing an electronic document, wherein, when the user interface lacks sufficient space for display of the fourth section, a size of the first section, the second section, or the third section is modified to accommodate the display of the fourth section. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification