# US 2014/0152693 A1 · Controlling display of command space using multi-state element > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0152693 A1 - Document ID: US20140152693A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/705,057 - Filed: 2012-12-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: Microsoft Corporation - Applicants: Microsoft Corporation - Inventors: Samuel Radakovitz; Melissa Kerr; Krista Bendig; Theodor Scott; Andrew Fomichev; Elaine Law; Clinton Covington - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140152693A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/0483: Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A multi-state viewing mode user interface (UI) element is used to switch between different viewing modes on a display of a computing device. A user may switch between hidden mode where commands are hidden, a collapsed mode where a portion of the commands are hidden, and an expanded mode where the commands are shown on the display. The viewing mode UI element may remain displayed such that a user may interact with the element to switch to another viewing mode. A trigger zone UI element may be displayed that when activated temporarily displays commands that are hidden according to the selected viewing mode. Other UI elements (e.g. closing the application) may also be shown. A selected viewing mode may persist across an application closing and re-opening. A status UI element may also be surfaced (e.g. temporarily) to indicate various events. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for changing a viewing mode, comprising: persistently displaying a viewing mode User Interface (UI) element while in different viewing modes that affect a number of commands displayed; receiving a selection of the viewing mode UI element; in response to receiving the selection of the viewing mode UI element, displaying at least three viewing mode options for changing a current viewing mode of an application; receiving a selected viewing mode from of one of the at least one of the three viewing mode options; changing the current viewing mode to the selected viewing mode; and persisting the current viewing mode across opening and closing of the application. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the at least three viewing mode options comprise a hidden mode where commands are hidden, a collapsed mode where a portion of the commands are hidden, and an expanded mode where the commands are shown. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein persistently displaying the viewing mode UI element comprises displaying a trigger zone UI element that when selected temporarily displays commands not currently shown in the current viewing mode. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the selection of the viewing mode UI element, comprises receiving a touch gesture. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a swipe gesture to change the current viewing mode to a next viewing mode. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein changing the current viewing mode to the selected viewing mode comprises: hiding a display of a ribbon user interface when the hidden mode is selected, displaying a portion of the ribbon user interface when the collapsed mode is selected and displaying the ribbon user interface when the expanded mode is selected. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a trigger zone UI element and a close application UI element with the display of the viewing mode UI element. ### Claim 8 (depends on 3) The method of claim 3, wherein the temporary display of the commands is removed in response to receiving a selection within the application. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying the UI elements at a top portion of a display. ### Claim 10 A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for changing a viewing mode, comprising: persistently displaying a viewing mode User Interface (UI) element while in different viewing modes that affect a number of commands displayed; receiving a selection of the viewing mode UI element; in response to receiving the selection of the viewing mode UI element, displaying viewing mode options comprising: a hidden mode that when selected commands are hidden, a collapsed mode that when selected hides a portion of the commands, and an expanded mode that when selected shows the commands; receiving a selected viewing mode; changing the current viewing mode to the selected viewing mode; and persisting the current viewing mode across opening and closing of the application. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein persistently displaying the viewing mode UI element comprises displaying a trigger zone UI element that when selected temporarily displays commands not currently shown in the current viewing mode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the temporary display of the commands is removed in response to receiving a selection within the application. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein receiving the selection of the viewing mode UI element, comprises receiving a touch gesture. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising receiving a swipe gesture to change the current viewing mode to a next viewing mode. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The computer-readable medium of claim 10, wherein changing the current viewing mode to the selected viewing mode comprises: hiding a display of a ribbon user interface when the hidden mode is selected, displaying a portion of the ribbon user interface when the collapsed mode is selected and displaying the ribbon user interface when the expanded mode is selected. ### Claim 16 (depends on 10) The computer-readable medium of claim 10, further comprising temporarily displaying a status while the viewing mode is one of either: the hidden mode and the collapsed mode. ### Claim 17 A system for changing a viewing mode, comprising: a display that is configured to receive touch input; a processor and memory; an operating environment executing using the processor; a display; and a screen manager that is configured to perform actions comprising: persistently displaying a viewing mode User Interface (UI) element on the display while in different viewing modes that affect a number of commands displayed; receiving a selection of the viewing mode UI element; in response to receiving the selection of the viewing mode UI element, displaying viewing mode options comprising: a hidden mode that when selected commands are hidden, a collapsed mode that when selected hides a portion of the commands, and an expanded mode that when selected shows the commands; receiving a selected viewing mode; changing the current viewing mode to the selected viewing mode; and persisting the current viewing mode across opening and closing of the application. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein persistently displaying the viewing mode UI element comprises displaying a trigger zone UI element that when selected temporarily displays commands not currently shown in the current viewing mode. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein receiving the selection of the viewing mode UI element, comprises receiving a touch gesture. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein changing the current viewing mode to the selected viewing mode comprises: hiding a display of a ribbon user interface when the hidden mode is selected, displaying a portion of the ribbon user interface when the collapsed mode is selected and displaying the ribbon user interface when the expanded mode is selected.