US 11,886,685 B1 · Desktop container peek interface

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing desktop environments of computer operating systems (OSs) are disclosed. A desktop of a graphical user interface (GUI) can be presented at a desktop layer of a window stack. Container(s) (e.g., desktop window(s)) that include one or more icons can be implemented as fenced off regions of the desktop, allowing users to interact with the containers and icons within while viewing the desktop. When the desktop is covered by other windows in the window stack, a depressed hotkey combination can cause the container(s) to pop above the other visible windows, allowing the user to interact with the containers and icons without needing to minimize, close, or move the other visible windows. Releasing the hotkey combination permits the container(s) to move back down to their original position in the window stack.

Claims26

Dependent claims

A computer-implemented method, comprising:

presenting a desktop on an operating system, wherein the desktop includes one or more desktop windows, the desktop being presented at a desktop layer of a window stack, wherein the desktop includes a container set of one or more containers, each container of the container set containing at least one icon;
presenting a working window, the working window having a higher z-order than the desktop layer;
receiving an engagement signal to engage a peek functionality;
moving the container set within the window stack to present the container set above the working window in the window stack in response to engagement of the peek functionality;
receiving an interaction with the at least one icon while the container set is presented above the working window in the window stack;
receiving a disengagement signal;
and
reverting the container set to the desktop layer of the window stack in response to receiving the disengagement signal.

5 more elements

A system, comprising:

one or more data processors;
and
a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing instructions which, when executed on the one or more data processors, cause the one or more data processors to perform operations including:
presenting a desktop on an operating system, wherein the desktop includes one or more desktop windows, the desktop being presented at a desktop layer of a window stack, wherein the desktop includes a container set of one or more containers, each container of the container set containing at least one icon;
presenting a WorkerW-class window, the WorkerW-class window having a higher z-order than the desktop layer;
receiving an engagement signal to engage a peek functionality;
moving the container set within the window stack to present the container set in an unobscured manner above the WorkerW-class window in the window stack in response to engagement of the peek functionality;
receiving an interaction with the at least one icon while the container set is presented above the WorkerW-class window in the window stack;
receiving a disengagement signal;
and
reverting the container set to the desktop layer of the window stack in response to receiving the disengagement signal.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Desktop container peek interface

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Desktop container peek interface

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims26