# US 11,442,616 B2 · Content-based directional placement application launch > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,442,616 B2 - Document ID: US11442616B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/395,410 - Filed: 2021-08-05 - Published: 2022-02-10 - Granted: 2022-09-13 - Earliest claimed: 2013-04-29 - Assignees: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Applicants: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC - Inventors: Miron Vranjes; Matthew Isaac Worley; Nils Anders Sundelin; Chaitanya Sareen; Robert James Jarrett; Jesse Clay Satterfield; Alice Steinglass; Richie Fang - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11442616B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0488: using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures - G06F 9/445: Program loading or initiating (bootstrapping G06F9/4401; security arrangements for program loading or initiating G06F21/57) - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A user can select content on an interface screen and provide an associated directional placement instruction to launch a new application window that displays the selected content or information associated with the selected content. The directional placement instruction may indicate an area of the screen where the user prefers to display the new application window. Responsive to the initiation of the directional placement instruction, a conversion module converts the selected content into a placeable representation of the new application. Responsive to receipt of the directional placement instruction, a window management system presents the new application window in the user interface in a location based on the directional placement instruction. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method comprising: detecting a selection of visible content of a first application window within a user interface; detecting an initiation of a directional placement instruction regarding the selected visible content of the first application window within the user interface; converting the selected visible content of the first application window within the user interface into a placeable control associated with the selected visible content responsive to the initiation of the directional placement instruction; detecting completion of the directional placement instruction after conversion of the selected visible content of the first application window within the user interface into the placeable control; and launching a second application window associated with the selected visible content, the launching being triggered by the detection of the completion of the directional placement instruction. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the directional placement instruction comprises dragging the selected visible content to a third application window. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein an application launched responsive to the directional placement instruction comprises a new window of an already executing application. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the third application window comprises a window of the already executing application. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein the first application window and the third application window are separated by a window boundary control. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The method of claim 2, wherein launching the second application window comprises replacing the third application window with the second application window. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the placeable control is visually distinguishable from the selected visible content. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the placeable control is visually distinguishable from the selected visible content based on size. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method of claim 7, wherein the placeable control is visually distinguishable from the selected visible content based on graphics. ### Claim 10 A system comprising: a processor; and a computer-readable medium storing instructions that are operative upon execution by the processor to: detect a selection of visible content of a first application window within a user interface; detect an initiation of a directional placement instruction regarding the selected visible content of the first application window within the user interface; convert the selected visible content of the first application window within the user interface into a placeable control associated with the selected visible content responsive to the initiation of the directional placement instruction; detect completion of the directional placement instruction after conversion of the selected visible content of the first application window within the user interface into the placeable control; and launch a second application window associated with the selected visible content, the launching being triggered by the detection of the completion of the directional placement instruction. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the directional placement instruction comprises dragging the selected visible content to a third application window. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein an application launched responsive to the directional placement instruction comprises a new window of an already executing application. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the third application window comprises a window of the already executing application. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein launching the second application window comprises replacing the third application window with the second application window. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The system of claim 10, wherein the placeable control is visually distinguishable from the selected visible content based on size and/or graphics. ### Claim 16 One or more computer storage devices having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, which, on execution by a computer, cause the computer to perform operations comprising: detecting a selection of visible content of a first application window within a user interface; detecting an initiation of a directional placement instruction regarding the selected visible content of the first application window within the user interface; converting the selected visible content of the first application window within the user interface into a placeable control associated with the selected visible content responsive to the initiation of the directional placement instruction; detecting completion of the directional placement instruction after conversion of the selected visible content of the first application window within the user interface into the placeable control; and launching a second application window associated with the selected visible content, the launching being triggered by the detection of the completion of the directional placement instruction. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The one or more computer storage devices of claim 16, wherein the directional placement instruction comprises dragging the selected visible content to a third application window. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The one or more computer storage devices of claim 17, wherein an application launched responsive to the directional placement instruction comprises a new window of an already executing application. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The one or more computer storage devices of claim 18, wherein the third application window comprises a window of the already executing application. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The one or more computer storage devices of claim 16, wherein the placeable control is visually distinguishable from the selected visible content based on size and/or graphics.