Command User Interface For Displaying Multiple Sections of Software Functionality Controls

• US 20090217192A1
• Filed: 02/17/2009
• Published: 08/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Butcher, Aaron Michael, Dean, Erin Elizabeth, Harris, Jensen M., Satterfield, Jesse Clay
• Granted Patent: US 9,015,621 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/777
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

To increase command-access efficiency and to optimize a user'"'"'s available user interface work space, an improved user interface is provided for displaying logical groupings of selectable software functionality controls that are associated with one or more selected top-level functionalities. Upon selection of a top-level functionality tab, selectable functionalities associated with the top-level functionality tab are divided into logical groupings and are presented in a customizable functionality control section below the tab. Upon selection of a different top-level functionality tab, selectable functionalities associated with the subsequently selected top-level functionality tab may either replace the first functionality control section or may be displayed in a separate functionality control section adjacent to the first functionality control section if real estate is available in the user interface.

Claims

1. A method for providing functionality from a software application via an improved user interface, comprising:

providing a plurality of functionalities available from the software application;

organizing the plurality of functionalities according to one or more tasks that may be performed with the software application;

providing in the user interface a user interface tab for each of the one or more tasks;

upon receiving an indication of a selection of a first user interface tab, displaying in the user interface a first functionality control section containing one or more controls for selecting one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the selected first user interface tab; and

upon receiving an indication of a subsequent selection of an alternate user interface tab, determining if display space is available within the user interface to display controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with a subsequently selected user interface tab in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab.

2. The method of claim 1, whereby if display space is available within the user interface, displaying in the user interface a second functionality control section containing one or more controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the subsequently selected user interface tab in addition to the displayed first functionality control section containing one or more controls for selecting one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the subsequently selected user interface tab include one or more functionalities associated with a task associated with context of an object being edited in a document.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising

upon receiving an indication of a second subsequent selection of an second alternate user interface tab, determining if display space is available within the user interface to display a third functionality control section containing controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with a second subsequently selected user interface tab in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first and subsequently selected user interface tabs;

and

if display space is available within the user interface, displaying in the user interface a third functionality control section containing controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the second subsequently selected user interface tab in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first and subsequently selected user interface tabs.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising

receiving an indication of an editing action on an object in an edited document;

determining if display space is available within the user interface to display controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the object in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab; and

if display space is available within the user interface, providing in the user interface one or more controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the object in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising

detecting an object in an edited document;

determining if display space is available within the user interface to display controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the object in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab; and

if display space is available within the user interface, providing in the user interface one or more controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the object in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab.

7. The method of claim 2, further comprising

moving a position of the first functionality control section relative to a position of the second functionality control section for optimizing use of the one or more functionality controls contained the first and second functionality control sections.

8. The method of claim 2, further comprising changing a display size of the first or second functionality control sections for fitting the first and second functionality control sections in display space available in the user interface.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein changing a display size of the first or second functionality control sections for fitting the first and second functionality control sections in display space available in the user interface includes automatically changing a display size of the first or second functionality control sections for fitting the first and second functionality control sections in display space available in the user interface after a determination that display space available in the user interface enables a display of one or both of the first and second functionality control sections to be enlarged or that requires a display of one or both of the first and second functionality control sections must be reduced.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein if a determination is made that display space available in the user interface is requires a display of one or both of the first and second functionality control sections must be reduced, reducing one or both of the first and second functionality control sections by reducing a display sized of one or more groupings of functionality controls contained in the first and second functionality control sections.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein changing a display size of the first or second functionality control sections for fitting the first and second functionality control sections in display space available in the user interface includes manually changing a display size of the first or second functionality control sections for fitting the first and second functionality control sections in display space available in the user interface after a determination that display space available in the user interface enables a display of one or both of the first and second functionality control sections to be enlarged or that requires a display of one or both of the first and second functionality control sections must be reduced.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising grouping the one or more controls for selecting one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the selected first user interface tab into one or more logical groupings of controls where each of the one or more logical groupings is associated with a subset of functionalities associated with the selected first user interface tab.

13. The method of claim 12, whereby if the user interface lacks sufficient space for displaying controls of a given logical grouping of controls, collapsing the given logical grouping of controls into a single selectable control for accessing the controls grouped under the given logical grouping of controls.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising rearranging a layout of individual controls grouped in a given logical grouping of controls for reducing the display size of the logical grouping of controls.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising

detecting an object in an edited document;

determining if display space is available within the user interface to display controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the object in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab; and

if display space is available within the user interface, providing in the user interface one or more controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the object in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab.

15. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for providing functionality from a software application via an improved user interface, comprising:

providing a plurality of functionalities available from the software application;

organizing the plurality of functionalities according to one or more tasks that may be performed with the software application;

providing in the user interface a user interface tab for each of the one or more tasks;

upon receiving an indication of a selection of a first user interface tab, displaying in the user interface a first functionality control section containing one or more controls for selecting one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the selected first user interface tab; and

receiving an indication of an editing action on an object in an edited document; and

if display space is available within the user interface, displaying in the user interface a second functionality control section containing one or more controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with editing the object in addition to the displayed first functionality control section.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15,

prior to displaying in the user interface a second functionality control section containing one or more controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with editing the object in addition to the displayed first functionality control section, determining if display space is available within the user interface to display controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the object in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab;

and

if display space is available within the user interface, providing in the user interface one or more controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the object in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab.

17. A computer readable medium containing computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for providing functionality from a software application via an improved user interface, comprising:

providing a plurality of functionalities available from the software application;

organizing the plurality of functionalities according to one or more tasks that may be performed with the software application;

providing in the user interface a user interface tab for each of the one or more tasks;

upon receiving an indication of a selection of a first user interface tab, displaying in the user interface a first functionality control section containing one or more controls for selecting one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the selected first user interface tab;

upon receiving an indication of a subsequent selection of an alternate user interface tab, determining if display space is available within the user interface to display controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with a subsequently selected user interface tab in addition to displayed controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab; and

if display space is available within the user interface, displaying in the user interface a second functionality control section containing one or more controls for one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the subsequently selected user interface tab in addition to the displayed first functionality control section containing one or more controls for selecting one or more functionalities organized under a task associated with the first selected user interface tab.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, further comprising automatically changing a display size of the first or second functionality control sections for fitting the first and second functionality control sections in display space available in the user interface after a determination that display space available in the user interface enables a display of one or both of the first and second functionality control sections to be enlarged or that requires a display of one or both of the first and second functionality control sections must be reduced.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein if a determination is made that display space available in the user interface is requires a display of one or both of the first and second functionality control sections must be reduced, reducing one or both of the first and second functionality control sections by reducing a display sized of one or more groupings of functionality controls contained in the first and second functionality control sections.