AutoSave and Manual Save Modes for Software Applications

• US 20140223377A1
• Filed: 02/01/2013
• Published: 08/07/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Shaw, Han-yi, Chellis, Keith B., Huang, Ying, Toor, Sukhmeet Singh
• Granted Patent: US 10,055,091 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/835
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1458 Management of the backup or restore process
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/1469 Backup restoration techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/16 File or folder operations, e.g. details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/197 Version control for software G06F8/71

Abstract

Autosave and manual save modes in an application user interface on a computing device are provided. The computing device may be utilized to display a menu for receiving a selection of a menu option from the application user interface. The application user interface may display an electronic document to be saved. The menu option may include an option for switching between an autosave mode and a manual save mode for saving the electronic document. A selection of the menu option may then be received by the computing device. The computing device may then be utilized to activate one or more unique features associated with either the autosave mode or the manual save mode, based on the selected menu option, from the application user interface.

Claims

1. A method of providing autosave and manual save modes in an application user interface, comprising:

displaying, by a computing device, a menu for receiving a selection of a menu option, the menu option comprising switching between an autosave mode and a manual save mode for saving an electronic document displayed in the application user interface;

receiving, by the computing device, a selection of the menu option in the application user interface; and

activating, by the computing device, one or more unique features associated with the autosave mode or the manual save mode, based on the selected menu option, from the application user interface.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying, by a computing device, a menu for receiving a selection of a menu option comprises displaying a menu for receiving a selection of a slider control for switching between the auotsave mode and the manual save mode for saving the electronic document displayed in the application user interface.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein activating, by the computing device, one or more unique features associated with the autosave mode or the manual save mode, based on the selected menu option, from the application user interface comprises activating a throttled save interval feature for automatically saving the electronic document.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein activating a throttled save interval feature for automatically saving the electronic document comprises determining an estimated default save interval based on a file size associated with the electronic document.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein activating a throttled save interval feature for automatically saving the electronic document further comprises:

monitoring an actual save interval during one or more saves of the electronic document; and

adjusting the estimated default save interval for subsequent saves of the electronic document based on the monitored actual save interval.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein activating a throttled save interval feature for automatically saving the electronic document further comprises displaying a progress indicator in the application user interface when a duration of the throttled save interval is longer than a predetermined time period.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein activating a throttled save interval feature for automatically saving the electronic document further comprises:

determining non-occurrence of a user action associated with the application for a predetermined period; and

automatically saving the electronic document in response to determining the non-occurrence of the user action.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein activating a throttled save interval feature for automatically saving the electronic document further comprises forcing an automatic save of the electronic document after determining an absence of a save operation for a predetermined length of time.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein activating, by the computing device, one or more unique features associated with the autosave mode or the manual save mode, based on the selected menu option, from the application user interface comprises displaying a menu option in the application user interface for manually saving the electronic document.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a restore option in the menu; and

displaying additional options in response to a selection of the restore option.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein displaying additional options in response to a selection of the restore option comprises:

displaying an option for replacing a current display of the electronic document with a display of a previously opened version of the electronic document in the application user interface; and

displaying an option for accessing one or more previous versions of the electronic document, the one or more previous versions of the electronic document being stored remotely from the computing device.

12. A computing device for providing autosave and manual save modes in an application user interface, comprising:

a memory for storing executable program code; and

a processor, functionally coupled to the memory, the processor being responsive to computer-executable instructions contained in the program code and operative to;

display a menu for receiving a selection of a menu option, the menu option comprising a slider control for switching between an autosave mode and a manual save mode for saving an electronic document displayed in the application user interface;

receive a selection of the menu option in the application user interface; and

activate a throttled save interval feature for automatically saving the electronic document when the selected menu option comprises an autosave mode.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor, in activating a throttled save interval feature for automatically saving the electronic document when the selected menu option comprises the autosave mode, is further operative to:

determine an estimated default save interval based on a file size associated with the electronic document;

monitor an actual save interval during one or more saves of the electronic document;

adjust the estimated default save interval for subsequent saves of the electronic document based on the monitored actual save interval;

display a progress indicator in the application user interface when a duration of the throttled save interval is longer than a predetermined time period;

determine non-occurrence of a user action associated with the application for a predetermined time period;

automatically save the electronic document in response to determining the non-occurrence of the user action; and

force an automatic save of the electronic document after determining an absence of a save operation for a predetermined length of time.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operative to display an option for manually saving the electronic document when the selected menu option comprises the manual save mode.

15. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the processor is further operative to:

display a restore option in the menu; and

display additional options in response to a selection of the restore option.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the additional options comprise:

an option for replacing a current display of the electronic document with a display of a previously opened version of the electronic document in the application user interface; and

an option for accessing one or more previous versions of the electronic document, the one or more previous versions of the electronic document being stored remotely from the computing device.

17. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions which, when executed by a computing device, will cause the computing device to perform a method of providing autosave and manual save modes in an application user interface, the method comprising:

displaying a dropdown menu for receiving a selection of a first menu option in the application user interface, the menu option comprising a slider control for switching between an autosave mode and a manual save mode for saving an electronic document displayed in the application user interface;

receiving a selection of the first menu option in the application user interface;

activating a throttled save interval feature for automatically saving the electronic document when the selected first menu option comprises the autosave mode, the activation of the throttled save interval feature comprising;

determining an estimated default save interval based on a file size associated with the electronic document;

monitoring an actual save interval during one or more saves of the electronic document;

adjusting the estimated default save interval for subsequent saves of the electronic document based on the monitored actual save interval;

displaying a progress indicator in the application user interface when a duration of the throttled save interval is longer than a first predetermined time period;

determining non-occurrence of a user action associated with the application for the first predetermined period;

automatically saving the electronic document in response to determining the non-occurrence of the action for the second predetermined time period; and

forcing an automatic save of the electronic document after determining an absence of a save operation for a second predetermined time period; and

displaying a second menu option in the application user interface to manually save the electronic document when the selected menu option comprises the manual save mode.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 17, further comprising:

displaying a third menu option in the application user interface; and

displaying additional options in response to a selection of the third menu option.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein displaying additional

options in response to a selection of the third menu option comprises:

displaying an option for replacing a current display of the electronic document with a display of a previously opened version of the electronic document in the application user interface; and

displaying an option for accessing one or more previous versions of the electronic document, the one or more previous versions of the electronic document being stored remotely from the computing device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 18, wherein the dropdown menu overlays a portion of the displayed electronic document in the application user interface.