Desktop management scheme
First Claim
1. An icon-driven user interface for a computer system comprising at least one context icon in which:
- a quick launch command asserted on the context icon causes launch of a main application, and an interaction command asserted on the context icon causes the user interface to open a context menu displaying at least one entry corresponding to secondary application associated with the context icon.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention introduces a “contextual icon” to an icon-driven interface in which a single icon represents a shortcut to a suite of computer applications. The icon is associated with a single main application that may be invoked if an operator double-clicks on it or enters some other predetermined quick launch command. The desktop icon also may be associated with a context menu that reveals ancillary applications or tools that are related to the suite and typically are used less frequently than the main menu. The context menu may be opened with an ancillary interaction command (example: right clicking on the icon) and, thereafter, an operator may browse through and select an application from the context menu that may be desired. In this way, the contextual icon management scheme reduces desktop clutter while maintaining a highly intuitive navigation scheme among related applications.
66 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An icon-driven user interface for a computer system comprising at least one context icon in which:
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a quick launch command asserted on the context icon causes launch of a main application, and an interaction command asserted on the context icon causes the user interface to open a context menu displaying at least one entry corresponding to secondary application associated with the context icon. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer system, comprising:
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integrated processor, memory and display apparatus, the processor operating through program instructions to render an icon-based graphical user interface (GUI) via the display, wherein for a context icon therein the GUI provides navigation pathways to a plurality of application programs of the computer systems. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A management method for an icon-based user interface of a computer system, comprising:
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when a first icon of the user interface is moved over a second icon by a drag and drop operation, determining whether the first icon represents an application program and, if so, replacing the icons with a context icon, the context icon having command pathways to each of the application programs formerly represented by the icons. - View Dependent Claims (17)
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18. A management method for an icon-based user interface of a computer system, comprising:
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selecting a plurality of icons from the user interface based on operator selection, in response to an operator command, replacing the selected icons with a context icon, the context icon having command pathways to application programs formerly represented by the selected icons. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification