Taskbar media player

• US 8,214,759 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2010
• Issued: 07/03/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2003
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Elliott, Geoffrey John, Saunders, Richard William, Thomas, Myron Clifford, Gupta, Madhuvan
• Primary Examiner(s): Augustine, Nicholas
• Application Number:
  US12/813,429
• Publication Number:
  US 20100269043A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/719, 715/727, 715/763, 715/764, 715/779, 715/810, 715/835, 715/845, 715/777
• US Class Current: 715/779
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 19/025 'Virtual' control panels, e.g. Graphical User Interface [GUI]

Abstract

A system and method for controlling media through a user interface integrated within a taskbar is described. This system and method enable a user to control media while a user interface of another application remains in perspective. Further, this system includes a taskbar media player, which can play media and enable a user to control the play of that media from within a taskbar.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

presenting a media player user interface that is integrated into an existing taskbar of an operating system shell, the media player user interface including two or more media player controls; and

enabling, without the media-player user interface being in perspective, user interaction with the two or more media player controls.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enabling includes enabling the user interaction with the two or more media player controls without disengaging from a non-media player application.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 2, wherein the non-media player application remains in focus during user interaction with at least one of the two or more media player controls.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enabling includes enabling the user interaction with the two or more media player controls without first receiving selection of the media player user interface.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the enabling includes enabling user interaction with one of the two or more media player controls with a single command.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the single command comprises a single mouse click on the one of the two or more media player controls.

7. A computer-readable storage medium comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, perform a method comprising:

presenting a media player user interface that is integrated into an existing taskbar of an operating system shell, the media player user interface including two or more media player controls; and

enabling, without the media player user interface being in perspective, user interaction with the two or more media player controls.

8. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the enabling is performed without the media player user interface being in focus.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 7, wherein the enabling includes enabling the user interaction with the two or more media player controls without disengaging from a non-media player application.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 9, wherein the non-media player application remains in focus during user interaction with one of the two or more media player controls.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the enabling includes enabling the user interaction with the one of the two or more media player controls with a single mouse click and without first receiving selection of the media player user interface.

12. A computing device comprising:

one or more processors; and

a computer-readable storage medium comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, perform a method comprising;

presenting a media player user interface that is integrated into an existing taskbar of an operating system shell, the media player user interface including two or more media player controls; and

enabling, without the media player user interface being in perspective, user interaction with the two or more media player controls.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein enabling the user interaction comprises enabling selection of one of the two or more media player controls with a single mouse click.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein enabling the user interaction comprises enabling selection of one of the two or more media player controls with a single command when a non-media player application is in perspective.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the perspective includes the non-media player application being in focus.

16. The computing device of claim 12, wherein enabling the user interaction comprises enabling selection of one of the two or more media player controls with a single.

17. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the two or more media player controls include buttons for selection of media player services.

18. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the two or more media player controls include at least two of a play control, a pause control, or a stop control.

19. The computing device of claim 12, wherein enabling the user interaction comprises enabling selection of one of the two or more media player controls with a single command and without first receiving selection of the one of the two or more media player controls to put the controls into perspective.