Function-oriented user interface

• US 20070124677A1
• Filed: 11/30/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/30/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Henderson, Paul, Chandley, Adrian, Nikitin, Egor, Makoski, Daniel, Calvery, Brian, Roberton, Nathanael, Elabbady, Tarek, de los Reyes, Isabelo, Joe, Phillip, Turner, Timothy
• Granted Patent: US 7,730,425 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/705
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A function-oriented user interface presents users with selections related to what they want to do, rather than selections related to what tool they want to use. Functions may be dragged onto elements (data objects) or elements may be dragged onto functions to initiate activity. The elements themselves may present icons representing functions that are available such as adding a voice note or addressing to another person.

Claims

1. A method of presenting a function-oriented user interface on a display of a computer comprising:

presenting a plurality of icons, including at least one of a first icon representing an entertainment function, a second icon representing a document editing function, and a third icon representing an Internet and communication function.

accepting a user signal indicating a selection of one of the plurality of icons; and

activating a default application corresponding to the functional capability associated with the selected one of the plurality of icons.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a plurality of icons further comprises:

presenting an icon representing a Teach Me function, wherein activating the Teach Me icon causes subsequent activation of one of the other of the plurality of icons to display menu selections associated with starting the function corresponding to the one of the other icons.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each of plurality of icons is circularly shaped and presenting the plurality of icons comprises presenting the plurality of icons arranged in an elliptical pattern.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein presenting the plurality of icons arranged in a elliptical pattern further comprises rotating each of the plurality of icons to a front of the elliptical pattern responsive to a cursor location relative to the elliptical pattern.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein presenting the plurality of icons further comprises presenting the icon at the front of the elliptical pattern with a highlight color at the periphery of the icon, the highlight color indicating the current default icon for selection.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising docking the plurality of icons along an edge of this display by selecting one of the plurality of icons from the elliptical pattern and dragging the one of the plurality of icons to a point on the display forming a line of icons extending from the point.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein presenting the plurality of icons in an elliptical pattern further comprises selecting one of the plurality of icons from the elliptical pattern and removing it to a standalone position on the display, whereby the remaining plurality of icons re-form the elliptical pattern.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting a plurality of icons comprises presenting the plurality of icons as the only visible elements on the display of the computer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein presenting the plurality of icons comprises presenting the plurality of icons in a grid pattern and further comprises presenting a default icon selection with a highlight color at the periphery of the default icon, wherein the default icon selection is made by moving a cursor over one of the plurality of icons.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein activating the default application comprises instantiating an object for presenting a user interface associated with the functional capability.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising creating a proximal relationship between the object and one of the plurality of icons, whereby the functional capability associated with the icon is applied to the object.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein creating a proximal relationship comprises moving the object to one of the plurality of icons for performing on the object the functional capability associated with the icon.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein creating a proximal relationship comprises moving one of the plurality of objects onto the object for performing on the object the functional capability associated with the icon.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying one or more sub-icons associated with the functional capability associated with the icon.

15. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

designating a location on the object for receiving a selection; and

displaying, responsive to receiving the selection, one or more sub-icons corresponding to functions for operating on the object.

16. An operating system for use on an electronic device comprising:

a module for displaying and managing a plurality of icons;

a module for activating an entertainment object associated with a first one of the plurality of icons;

a module for activating a document editing object associated with a second one of the plurality of icons; and

a module for activating a communication object associated with a third one of the plurality of icons.

17. The operating system of claim 16, wherein the module for displaying and managing the plurality of icons comprises a sub-module for presenting the plurality of icons in an elliptical shape and further for presenting a standby icon with a highlighted region on the periphery of the standby icon.

18. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for implementing a method comprising:

presenting a plurality of icons in a geometric pattern, each of the plurality of icons associated with a function;

highlighting according to position a standby icon indicating a selection will activate the function associated with the standby icon;

activating the function associated with the standby icon responsive to receiving the selection of the standby icon; and

displaying an object supporting a user interface for performing the function associated with the icon.

19. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for implementing the method of claim 18, further comprising:

dividing a displayed area into first and second regions, wherein icons in the first region are associated with active functions and icons in the second region are associated with inactive functions.

20. The computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions for implementing the method of claim 18, further comprising:

accepting a value corresponding an angular position of a cursor control device and moving the plurality of icons in the geometric pattern as a function of the angular position; and

accepting a switch input from the cursor control device for selecting the standby icon.