Third party service switching through command bar user interface

• US 20050246654A1
• Filed: 11/19/2004
• Published: 11/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Anderson, W. Michael, Cain, Jonathan M., Hally, Judson Craig, Goade, Richard S.
• Granted Patent: US 7,941,761 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/779
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9566 URL specific, e.g. using aliases, detecting broken or misspelled links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1101 Session protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/612 for unicast
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/764 at the destination reformatting of additional data in video clients H04N21/4355
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]

Abstract

A graphical user interface allows users to access multiple third party services (e.g., online media services) and enables the services to provide functionality within the GUI adjacent to core functionality of a host application (e.g., a media player application, operating system shell, etc.). The GUI provides an interface region for third party service functionality that is distinct from, but equal in exposure and prominence to, the core functionality provided by the application hosting the GUI. The GUI enables seamless switching between a list of available services provided in a service menu. Switching between services replaces service function buttons and service branding according to particular service customizations.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display device and a user interface selection device, a method of exposing online services comprising:

displaying a tool bar having an application function area and a service function area, the application function area having application buttons to control functions of a host application, the service function area optionally having a service brand indicating an active online service, service buttons to control functions associated with the active online service, and a menu button to display a list of valid online services;

receiving a user input indicating a selection of the menu button;

in response to the selection of the menu button, displaying the list;

receiving a user input indicating a selection of a different online service from the list; and

in response to the selection of the different online service, switching the active online service to the different online service.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising altering the service buttons and the service brand in accordance with customizations of the different online service.

3. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising altering the appearance of the service function area in response to a selection of a service button.

4. A method as recited in claim 3, wherein altering the appearance is selected from the group comprising:

highlighting the service function area;

changing the color of the service function area;

adjusting the texture of the service function area; and

adjusting a background intensity level within the service function area.

5. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein altering the service brand comprises displaying an icon associated with the selected online service.

6. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein altering the service buttons comprises changing the service buttons such that they control functions associated with the selected online service.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a user input indicating a selection of an application button from the application function area; and

in response to the selected application button, altering the appearance of the selected application button to indicate an active application function.

8. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured to display a graphical user interface on a display device and to manage the graphical user interface in response to user input provided through an interface selection device, the graphical user interface comprising:

a command bar having an application function area and a service function area;

application buttons located within the application function area to control functions of an application; and

a service list menu button in the service function area to control switching between different online services.

9. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 8, the graphical user interface further comprising:

service buttons located within the service function area to control functions associated with a currently active online service.

10. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 8, the graphical user interface further comprising:

service buttons located throughout a host application to control functions associated with a currently active online service.

11. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 8, the graphical user interface further comprising:

a branding icon displayed within the service function area to identify a currently active online service.

12. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 8, wherein the application is selected from the group comprising:

a media player application;

an operating system; and

an operating system shell.

13. A computer comprising the processor-readable medium of claim 8.

14. A processor-readable medium comprising processor-executable instructions configured for:

displaying a user interface command bar having a host application region to control functions of a media player application, and a media service region to control functions associated with a currently active media service;

providing access to a list of media services through a service list menu button within the media service region; and

switching from the currently active media service to a newly active media service in response to a selection made from the list of media services.

15. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the displaying comprises displaying application buttons in the host application region to control functions of the media player application and displaying service buttons in the media service region to control functions of the currently active media service.

16. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the providing access to a plurality of media services comprises:

receiving a user input indicating the service list menu button has been selected; and

in response to the selection of the service list menu button, displaying the list of media services.

17. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the switching from the currently active media service to a newly active media service comprises:

receiving a user input indicating a particular media service has been selected from the list of media services; and

in response to the selection of the particular media service, switching from the currently active media service to the particular media service, making the particular media service the newly active media service.

18. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 14 comprising further processor-executable instructions configured for altering the appearance of the media service region whenever a function within the media service region is active.

19. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 18, wherein altering the appearance of the media service region is selected from the group comprising:

highlighting the media service region;

changing the color of the media service region;

adjusting the texture of the media service region; and

adjusting a background intensity level within the media service region.

20. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 15 comprising further processor-executable instructions configured for altering the appearance of a service button within the media service region whenever the service button has been activated to control a function of the currently active media service.

21. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 20, wherein altering the appearance of a service button is selected from the group comprising:

highlighting the service button;

changing the color of the service button;

adjusting the texture of the service button; and

adjusting a background intensity level of the service button.

22. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 14 comprising further processor-executable instructions configured for altering the appearance of the host application region whenever a function within the host application region is active.

23. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 22, wherein altering the appearance of the host application region is selected from the group comprising:

highlighting the host application region;

changing the color of the host application region;

adjusting the texture of the host application region; and

adjusting a background intensity level within the host application region.

24. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 15 comprising further processor-executable instructions configured for altering the appearance of an application button within the host application region whenever the application button has been activated to control a function of the media player application.

25. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 24, wherein altering the appearance of an application button is selected from the group comprising:

highlighting the application button;

changing the color of the application button;

adjusting the texture of the application button; and

adjusting a background intensity level of the application button.

26. A processor-readable medium as recited in claim 14, wherein the switching from the currently active media service to the newly active media service comprises:

altering the appearance of the media service region and buttons within the media service region in accordance with a service information file retrieved from the newly active media service; and

changing a branding icon displayed within the media service region from one identifying the currently active media service to one identifying the newly active media service.

27. A computer comprising the processor-readable medium of claim 14.

28. A computer comprising:

a display device;

an application; and

a user interface manager configured to manage and display a graphical user interface on the display device, wherein the application hosts an active online service provider and the graphical user interface provides user access to functionality of both the application and the active online service provider, and wherein the graphical user interface enables the active online service provider to customize portions of the graphical user interface.

29. A computer as recited in claim 28, further comprising:

a user interface selection device;

wherein the graphical user interface enables a user to switch the active online service provider to a different online service provider by using the selection device to select between a plurality of online service providers listed in a service menu on the graphical user interface.

30. A computer as recited in claim 28, further comprising a command bar within the graphical user interface that includes an application function region having selectable application function buttons and a service function region having selectable service function buttons, wherein the user interface manager enables the active online service provider to customize the service function region.

31. A computer as recited in claim 28, wherein the application is selected from the group comprising:

an operating system;

an operating system component; and

a media player application.