Chromeless user interface

• US 8,175,653 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2009
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Smuga, Michael A., Apfel, Darren A., Haning, Ryan M., Kruzeniski, Michael J., Henderlight, Michael K., Wilson, Brian M., Guntaur, Paula, Voss, Chad A., Schneekloth, Jason S
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, CONGVAN
• Application Number:
  US12/414,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20100248787A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/95, 455/145, 455/154.2, 4551584- 5, 455/457, 455/550.1, 345/169, 345/173, 715/761, 715/828, 715/841
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

Techniques are described to implement a user interface for a display of a mobile device. In an implementation, the user interface may include a chromeless menu configured to be displayed when menu-based user input to the mobile device is available; a system tray configured to be displayed on the display when a notice containing status information affecting operability of the mobile device is available; and a task switcher module operable to cause a chromeless overlay be displayed over an active application being executed by the mobile device to allow selection of one or more applications of the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

executing an application configured to furnish a user experience for a display of a mobile phone; and

implementing a user interface configured to cause an application programming interface (API) to be generated to expose functionality to the application to configure the application for chromeless display of the user experience in which the menu system;

is configured to be displayed over the user experience in response to a menu-based user input being available to the application;

includes at least one menu item configured to be selected to accept the menu-based user input; and

includes a sub-menu operable to be displayed in response to selection of the menu item, the sub-menu comprising a satellite configured to be displayed at a point on the display where the menu item was displayed and a plurality of sub-menu items arranged around the satellite.

2. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the menu system comprises a top level menu and the at least one menu item comprises a primary menu item and a secondary menu item.

3. A method as recited in claim 2, further comprising animating the top level menu.

4. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the sub-menu is configured to be hidden and the menu item redisplayed in response to selection of the satellite.

5. A method as recited in claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises a system tray configured to be displayed over the user experience in response to a notification containing at least one of communication related information or device status information affecting operability of the mobile device.

6. A method as recited in claim 5, wherein the user interface further comprises a task switcher configured to display indicia corresponding to one or more non-active tasks running on the mobile device in an overlay superimposed over the user experience, the task switcher being configured to switch to one of the one or more non-active tasks in response selection of the indicia.

7. A mobile device comprising:

a display; and

one or more modules implemented at least partially in hardware to provide a user interface configured to cause an application programming interface (API) to be generated to expose functionality to the application to configure the application for chromeless display of the user experience in which the menu system;

is configured to be displayed over the user experience in response to a menu-based user input being available to the application;

includes at least one menu item configured to be selected to accept the menu-based user input; and

includes a sub-menu operable to be displayed in response to selection of the menu item, the sub-menu comprising a satellite configured to be displayed at a point on the display where the menu item was displayed and a plurality of sub-menu items arranged around the satellite.

8. A mobile device as described in claim 7, wherein the menu system comprises a top level menu and the at least one menu item comprises a primary menu item and a secondary menu item.

9. A mobile device as described in claim 8, further comprising animating the top level menu.

10. A mobile device as described in claim 7, wherein the sub-menu is configured to be hidden and the menu item redisplayed in response to selection of the satellite.

11. A mobile device as described in claim 7, wherein the user interface further comprises a system tray configured to be displayed over the user experience in response to a notification containing at least one of communication related information or device status information affecting operability of the mobile device.

12. A mobile device as described in claim 11, wherein the user interface further comprises a task switcher configured to display indicia corresponding to one or more non-active tasks running on the mobile device in an overlay superimposed over the user experience, the task switcher being configured to switch to one of the one or more non-active tasks in response selection of the indicia.

13. One or more computer readable storage media comprising instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by a device, causes the device to generate a user interface configured to cause an application programming interface (API) to be generated to expose functionality to an application to configure the application for chromeless display of the user experience in which the menu system:

is configured to be displayed over the user experience in response to a menu-based user input being available to the application;

includes at least one menu item configured to be selected to accept the menu-based user input; and

includes a sub-menu operable to be displayed in response to selection of the menu item, the sub-menu comprising a satellite configured to be displayed at a point on a display where the menu item was displayed and a plurality of sub-menu items arranged around the satellite.

14. One or more computer readable storage media as described in claim 13, wherein the menu system comprises a top level menu and the at least one menu item comprises a primary menu item and a secondary menu item.

15. One or more computer readable storage media as described in claim 14, further comprising animating the top level menu.

16. One or more computer readable storage media as described in claim 13, wherein the sub-menu is configured to be hidden and the menu item redisplayed in response to selection of the satellite.

17. One or more computer readable storage media as described in claim 13, wherein the user interface further comprises a system tray configured to be displayed over the user experience in response to a notification containing at least one of communication related information or device status information affecting operability of the mobile device.

18. One or more computer readable storage media as described in claim 17, wherein the user interface further comprises a task switcher configured to display indicia corresponding to one or more non-active tasks running on the mobile device in an overlay superimposed over the user experience, the task switcher being configured to switch to one of the one or more non-active tasks in response selection of the indicia.