Bret E Anderson, 52Spokane, WA

7350154, Mar 25, 2008

Dec 1, 2005

11/293421

Bret Paul Anderson - Puyallup WA, US
Kelly Elizabeth Rollin - Seattle WA, US
Daniel J Shapiro - Redmond WA, US

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

G06F 3/00

715778, 715779, 715838

A method for a user to preview multiple virtual desktops in a graphical user interface is described. The method comprises receiving an indication from a user to preview the multiple virtual desktops and displaying multiple panes on the display. Each pane contains a scaled virtual desktop having dimensions that are proportionally less than the dimensions of a corresponding full-size virtual desktop. Each scaled virtual desktop displays with one or more scaled application windows as shadows if the corresponding full-size virtual desktop has one or more corresponding application windows that are active.

7594185, Sep 22, 2009

Dec 1, 2005

11/293623

Bret Paul Anderson - Puyallup WA, US
Kelly Elizabeth Rollin - Seattle WA, US
Daniel J Shapiro - Redmond WA, US

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

G06F 3/048

715778, 715779, 715835, 715762

A method for a user to preview multiple virtual desktops in a graphical user interface is described. The method comprises receiving an indication from a user to preview the multiple virtual desktops and displaying multiple panes on the display. Each pane contains a scaled virtual desktop having dimensions that are proportionally less than the dimensions of a corresponding full-size virtual desktop. Each scaled virtual desktop displays with one or more scaled application windows as shadows if the corresponding full-size virtual desktop has one or more corresponding application windows that are active.

7600194, Oct 6, 2009

Dec 2, 2005

11/292794

Pasquale DeMaio - Bellevue WA, US
Matthew R. Lerner - Seattle WA, US
Charles Cummins - Seattle WA, US
Song Zou - Issaquah WA, US
Bret P. Anderson - Kirkland WA, US
David A. Matthews - Seattle WA, US
Isabelo Valentin de los Reyes - Bellevue WA, US

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

G06F 3/00

715810, 715863, 715865, 715825

Described is distinguishing between input mechanisms to determine which input mechanism was used to activate a start menu. A start menu is selected that corresponds to the input mechanism that was used to activate it. Further data corresponding to start menu interaction is received, and action is taken via based on the further interaction. For example, upon detecting activation of a start menu, how the start menu was activated from among activation types is used to present a first start menu/behavior for a first activation type, which may differ from a second start menu/behavior activated via a second activation type. For example, a determination may be made as to whether a start menu was invoked via a pointing device or via keyboard; when via keyboard, a search entry region may be provided, by which a user may directly enter search criteria via the keyboard.

7630975, Dec 8, 2009

Mar 30, 2006

11/392968

Bret P. Anderson - Puyallup WA, US
David A. Matthews - Seattle WA, US
Matthew A. Lerner - Seattle WA, US
Song Zou - Issaquah WA, US

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

G06F 17/30

707 4, 707 2, 707 5, 707 6

A unified user interface is described that allows a user to search, browse, and launch items from the same user interface. For example, a single text input box may be provided that allows the user to perform all these functions by typing in a portion of an item name or an entire item name. The various functions may be selectively performed depending upon the text inputted by the user into the text input box. For example, where the text appears to be the beginning of an item name, then those items matching the input text will dynamically appear as the user types. Or, where the text appears to be the beginning of a file path, then items in that file path may be presented. In addition, advanced items such as system files may be suppressed so that inexperienced users do not accidentally stumble across these items.

8214760, Jul 3, 2012

Jan 16, 2008

12/015123

David A. Matthews - Redmond WA, US
Song Zou - Issaquah WA, US
Bret P. Anderson - Puyallup WA, US
Jared C. Simpson - Redmond WA, US
Pai-Hung Chen - Redmond WA, US
Patrice L. Miner - Kirkland WA, US

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

G06F 3/048

715795, 715796, 715802

A method and computer-storage media for minimizing application windows based on a triggering event are provided. Embodiments of the present invention include determining that a triggering event has occurred with respect to a target window, automatically minimizing all of the minimizable application windows except the target application window, and generating an undo record that may be used to restore the minimized windows upon the determination that a second triggering event has occurred with respect to the target window. In one embodiment, the triggering event is shaking the target application window.

8296670, Oct 23, 2012

May 19, 2008

12/123196

David A Matthews - Seattle WA, US
Chaitanya D Sareen - Seattle WA, US
Patrice L Miner - Kirkland WA, US
Bret P Anderson - Puyallup WA, US
Jason Silvis - Bellevue WA, US

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

G06F 3/048

715769, 715762, 715764, 715770

Computer-readable media, computerized methods, and computer systems for intuitively invoking a presentation action (e. g. , rendering a menu) by applying a drag-operation at a top-level control button rendered at a touchscreen display are provided. Initially, aspects of a user-initiated input applied at the top-level control button are detected. These aspects may include an actuation location and a distance of a drag-movement therefrom. If a distance of the drag-movement at the touchscreen display is greater than a threshold distance in a particular radial direction from the actuation location, the user-initiated input is considered a drag-operation. Typically, a set of trigger boundaries are constructed based on system metrics to assist in disambiguating the drag-operation from a tap-type operation. If a drag-operation is identified, the presentation action is invoked; otherwise, a principle action associated with the top-level control button (e. g. , manipulating content of an application) may be invoked.

8327286, Dec 4, 2012

Mar 13, 2008

12/047773

Rebecca Jeanette Deutsch - Seattle WA, US
Benjamin Alexander Betz - Redmond WA, US
Stephan Hoefnagels - Seattle WA, US
Chaitanya D. Sareen - Seattle WA, US
Bret P. Anderson - Kirkland WA, US
Robert James Jarrett - Snohomish WA, US

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

G06F 3/048
G06F 9/445

715778, 715781, 715783, 717168, 717174

Embodiments of the invention provide a method, system, and media for intelligently presenting buttons that correspond to running windows as well as a set of application launchers that launch instances of software applications. One version of the method includes receiving an indication that an instance of a software application has been invoked by a launching mechanism, which leads to creating a windowed process in which to present the instance of the software application; determining that at least one of the application launchers was the launching mechanism; automatically removing the launcher(s) from view; and presenting a button that corresponds to the windowed process.

8478763, Jul 2, 2013

Nov 18, 2009

12/621085

Bret P. Anderson - Puyallup WA, US
David A. Matthews - Seattle WA, US
Matthew A. Lerner - Seattle WA, US
Song Zou - Issaquah WA, US

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

G06F 7/00

707748, 707716, 707741, 707754, 707759

A unified user interface is described that allows a user to search, browse, and launch items from the same user interface. For example, a single text input box may be provided that allows the user to perform all these functions by typing in a portion of an item name or an entire item name. The various functions may be selectively performed depending upon the text inputted by the user into the text input box. For example, where the text appears to be the beginning of an item name, then those items matching the input text will dynamically appear as the user types. Or, where the text appears to be the beginning of a file path, then items in that file path may be presented. In addition, advanced items such as system files may be suppressed so that inexperienced users do not accidentally stumble across these items.