Query Box Polymorphism

• US 20120290967A1
• Filed: 05/12/2011
• Published: 11/15/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/12/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Scott, Matthew Robert, Shih, Tzuwei, Liu, Yaping
• Granted Patent: US 9,170,706 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/780
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9032 Query formulation
• 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 9/453 Help systems

Abstract

Tools and techniques for a polymorphic query box operating on a computing device are described herein. The polymorphic query box application provides an adaptive query box via a single graphical user interface that detects an input scenario based on the type of input received via the polymorphic query box. In accordance with the detected scenario, the polymorphic query box dynamically changes appearance and function. In some implementations, the techniques include the polymorphic application ordering web search and/or translation based on the input being received. In some implementations, the techniques include providing context sensitive controls for input editing before completing the query.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

providing, for display on a computing device, a polymorphic query box operating on the computing device in a graphical user interface; and

changing appearance and function of the polymorphic query box based at least on input being received via an inner field of the polymorphic query box, the inner field having an initial size.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising presenting a graphical hint of polymorphic features.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein the graphical hint is not a clickable control.

4. A method as recited in claim 2, wherein on mouse over of the graphical hint a cursor controlled by the mouse is provided as a help cursor

5. A method as recited in claim 4, wherein on extended mouse hover over the graphical hint, hint text is provided to accompany the help cursor

6. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the polymorphic query box includes gray text that is cleared responsive to the inner field of the polymorphic query box receiving focus.

7. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, when more text is entered than will fit in the initial boundaries of the inner field:

deactivating autocomplete;

expanding the inner field; and

shadowing the inner field to indicate changed function of the polymorphic query box.

8. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising when text is deleted such that the remaining text will fit in the initial boundaries of the inner field:

reactivating autocomplete;

retracting the inner field to the initial size; and

removing the shadow of the inner field to indicate changed function of the polymorphic query box.

9. A method as recited in claim 7, further comprising, when more text is entered than will fit in the expanded inner field, adding scroll bars between the text and the query icon of the polymorphic query box.

10. A method as recited in claim 9, further comprising, when text is deleted such that the remaining text will fit in the expanded inner field, removing the scroll bars.

11. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the function of polymorphic query box includes at least one of translation or web search.

12. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the function of polymorphic query box includes translation and web search.

13. A method as recited in claim 1, further comprising, responsive to receiving a copy/paste entry:

deactivating autocomplete;

expanding the inner field; and

shadowing the inner field to indicate changed function of the polymorphic query box.

14. A method as recited in claim 13, further comprising, responsive to receiving a click of the query icon or click out of the inner field:

retracting the inner field to the initial size; and

removing the shadow of the inner field to indicate changed function of the polymorphic query box.

15. A method as recited in claim 14, further comprising, responsive to receiving a subsequent click in the inner field repeating expanding the inner field.

16. A computer-readable medium having encoded thereon computer-executable instructions to configure a computing device to perform operations comprising:

detecting a screen size for the computing device;

programming a polymorphic query box including an inner field for a graphical user interface configured for the screen size being detected;

presenting a graphical hint of polymorphic features of the polymorphic query box; and

adapting appearance and function of the polymorphic query box based at least on input being received via the inner field.

17. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 16, the operations further comprising:

detecting an amount of input being received via the inner field;

expanding the inner field responsive to detecting that the amount of input being received exceeds a first threshold;

responsive to the expanding, ceasing to present autocompletion suggestions.

18. A computer-readable medium as recited in claim 16, wherein the function being adapted includes a machine translation function.

20. An apparatus programmed to present a graphical user interface as recited in claim 17.

19. An graphical user interface comprising:

a polymorphic query box operating from client side logic;

a graphical hint of polymorphic features of the polymorphic query box;

an expansion feature causing the polymorphic query box to expand responsive to receiving input exceeding a first threshold; and

a function adaptation feature causing the polymorphic query box to adapt responsive to the input being received.