Dynamic minimized navigation bar for expanded communication service
First Claim
1. A method executed in a computing device for providing a navigation bar in a minimized state within a communication application, the method comprising:
- determining a state for the navigation bar based on a user interface context;
in response to a determination that the determined state is the minimized state, displaying the navigation bar in the minimized state comprising icons representing modules of the communication application within a user interface of the communication application, wherein the navigation bar provides temporary previews associated with the modules of the communication application and summary information in form of information badges, the modules comprising an email exchange module, a scheduling module, a contact management module, and a task management module;
in response to detecting a hover action on one of the icons, displaying a temporary preview of content associated with a module represented by the one of the icons, wherein content associated with another one of the modules is displayed on a main view of the communication application and a format of the temporary preview and the main view are distinct;
in response to detecting selection of one of the icons, modifying the user interface to display the content associated with the module represented by the selected icon; and
enabling docking of the temporary preview to a main view to display the temporary preview and the main view simultaneously in response to a user selection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A minimized state navigation bar is provided for switching between modules within an expanded communication service such as email, calendar, contacts, tasks, etc. and for presenting preview peeks associated with each module to a user. The minimized state may be selected automatically based on user interface context or user action. A temporary preview of a module may be provided upon a hover action over the icons without actually needing to switch to a module. The preview may also be docked or pinned to a location on the main user interface so that it is displayed within the main user interface. New or interesting activity within each module may be highlighted by displaying an information badge next to an icon, for example.
35 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method executed in a computing device for providing a navigation bar in a minimized state within a communication application, the method comprising:
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determining a state for the navigation bar based on a user interface context; in response to a determination that the determined state is the minimized state, displaying the navigation bar in the minimized state comprising icons representing modules of the communication application within a user interface of the communication application, wherein the navigation bar provides temporary previews associated with the modules of the communication application and summary information in form of information badges, the modules comprising an email exchange module, a scheduling module, a contact management module, and a task management module; in response to detecting a hover action on one of the icons, displaying a temporary preview of content associated with a module represented by the one of the icons, wherein content associated with another one of the modules is displayed on a main view of the communication application and a format of the temporary preview and the main view are distinct; in response to detecting selection of one of the icons, modifying the user interface to display the content associated with the module represented by the selected icon; and enabling docking of the temporary preview to a main view to display the temporary preview and the main view simultaneously in response to a user selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 18, 19)
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9. A computing device for providing a communication application with a navigation bar in a minimized state, the computing device comprising:
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an input device; a memory; a processor coupled to the memory and the input device, the processor executing the communication application and causing a user interface associated with the communication application to be displayed on a screen, wherein the processor is configured to; determine a state for the navigation bar based on a user interface context, wherein the user interface context includes at least one from a set of;
a currently displayed module, an available display area, content displayed, an application type, a device type, and a user credential;in response to a determination that the determined state is the minimized state, display the navigation bar in the minimized state comprising icons representing modules of the communication application within the user interface of the communication application, wherein the navigation bar provides temporary previews associated with the modules of the communication application and summary information in form of information badges, the modules comprising an email exchange module, a scheduling module, a contact management module, and a task management module; display a number of items of interest in the modules through information badges adjacent to the icons representing the modules; in response to detecting a hover action on one of the icons, display a temporary preview of the content associated with a module represented by the one of the icons, wherein content associated with another one of the modules is displayed on a main view of the communication application and a format of the temporary preview and the main view are distinct; in response to detecting selection of one of the icons, modify the user interface to display the content associated with the module represented by the selected icon; and enable docking of the temporary preview to a main view to display the temporary preview and the main view simultaneously in response to a user selection. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer-readable memory device with instructions stored thereon for providing a navigation bar in a minimized state within a communication application, the instructions containing:
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determining a state for the navigation bar based on a user interface context, wherein the user interface context includes at least one from a set of;
a currently displayed module, an available display area, content displayed, an application type, a device type, and a user credential;in response to a determination that the determined state is the minimized state, displaying the navigation bar in the minimized state comprising icons representing modules of the communication application within a user interface of the communication application wherein the navigation bar provides temporary previews associated with the modules of the communication application and summary information in form of information badges, the modules comprising an email exchange module, a scheduling module, a contact management module, and a task management module; displaying a number of items of interest in the modules through information badges adjacent to the icons representing the modules; in response to detecting a hover action on one of the icons, displaying a temporary preview of the displayed content associated with a module represented by the one of the icons, wherein content associated with another one of the modules is displayed on a main view of the communication application and a format of the temporary preview and the main view are distinct; in response to detecting selection of one of the icons, modifying the user interface to display the content associated with the module represented by the selected icon; and enabling docking of the temporary preview to a main view to display the temporary preview and the main view simultaneously in response to a user selection. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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Specification