Chromeless user interface

• US 9,977,575 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2014
• Issued: 05/22/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Smuga, Michael A., Apfel, Darren A., Schneekloth, Jason S., Haning, Ryan M., Kruzeniski, Michael J., Henderlight, Michael K., Wilson, Brian M., Guntaur, Paula, Voss, Chad A.
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US14/517,457
• Publication Number:
  US 20150040057A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,313 Days
• Field of Search: 455 95, 4551542, 455457, 4555501, 345169, 345173, 715761, 715828, 715841
• 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: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

executing an application configured to furnish a user experience for a display by a mobile device; and

implementing a user interface configured to cause an application programming interface (API) to be generated to expose functionality to the application to configure the application for chromeless display of the user experience by the mobile device, the user interface comprising a task switcher configured to be;

initially hidden from view in a user experience of an active task; and

displayed in an overlay superimposed over the user experience of the active task in response to a user request to launch the task switcher, the task switcher containing one or more selectable indicia corresponding to non-active tasks running on the mobile device.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein a user selection of an indicium of the one or more selectable indicia causes the user interface to switch to a user experience of a non-active task corresponding to the respective indicium.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the task switcher is no longer displayed responsive to the user selection of the indicium.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the task switcher is no longer displayed responsive to a user input dismissing the task switcher.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface further includes a system tray and wherein the request to launch the task switcher comprises a user selection of a launch point in the system tray.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the system tray is configured to be initially hidden from view in the user experience of the active task and displayed in an overlay superimposed over the user experience of the active task in response to a notification affecting operability of the device.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the active and non-active tasks correspond to applications or notifications.

8. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the task switcher hosts incoming communication related notifications.

9. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the one or more selectable indicia comprises an indicium corresponding to the most recent task accessed by the user.

10. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the overlay comprises a translucent display of the task switcher over the user experience of the active task.

11. A method comprising:

executing an application configured to furnish a user experience for a display by a mobile device; and

implementing a user interface configured to cause an application programming interface (API) to be generated to expose functionality to the application to configure the application for chromeless display of the user experience by the mobile device, the user interface comprising a dashboard configured to be;

executable to access one or more common settings of the mobile device;

initially hidden from view in the user experience; and

displayed in an overlay superimposed over the user experience in response to a user request to launch the dashboard.

12. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the user request to launch the dashboard comprises selecting a launch point from a system tray.

13. A method as described in claim 12, wherein the system tray is configured to be initially hidden from view in the user experience and displayed in an overlay superimposed over the user experience in response to a notification affecting operability of the device.

14. A method as described in claim 11, wherein the user request to launch the dashboard comprises selecting a device status notification.

15. A mobile device comprising:

a display;

at least one processor; and

one or more computer-readable memory or storage devices storing instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause a user interface to be configured for display by the display, the user interface comprising a system tray configured to be initially hidden from view and displayed in the user interface in response to a notification containing device status information affecting operability of the mobile device.

16. A mobile device as described in claim 15, wherein the user interface further comprises a task switcher and a dashboard.

17. A mobile device as described in claim 16, wherein the system tray includes launch points for a task switcher and a dashboard, the launch points executing the switcher or dashboard in response to a user selection of the respective launch point.

18. A mobile device as described in claim 16, wherein the dashboard is executed responsive to a user selection of the notification containing device status information affecting operability of the device.

19. A mobile device as described in claim 16, wherein the task switcher contains one or more selectable indicia corresponding to non-active tasks running on the mobile device.

20. A mobile device as described in claim 19, wherein the selecting an indicium from the one or more selectable indicia switches the user interface from an active task to the non-active task corresponding to the indicium.