Efficient workspace management using content groups

A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions which, when executed on a computer including a display device, a graphics display system, a memory, and an input device having a plurality of keys for inputting data into the computer, carry out a method for efficiently managing display content on the computer, the method comprising:

• defining a plurality of content groups, wherein a content group in the plurality of content groups is a grouping of content that can be displayed on the display device via the graphics display system, and wherein one of the content groups is designated as a working group through which a management action on content within each of the plurality of content groups is effectuated;
• and
• upon detecting a display management trigger event:
• displaying a plurality of representative views on the display device, wherein each representative view corresponds to a content group, and wherein each representative view is associated with a key on the input device;
• in an event a particular display content is disassociated from all content groups:
• the particular display content is associated with the working group by default;
• in an event a particular display content associated with a particular content group other than the working group and the display content is retrieved into the working group:
• the particular display content is displayed simultaneously using the working group and the content group, the particular display content represented in a modified format, the modified format comprising one or more modifications selected from a list, the list comprising:
• a dashed border;
• and
• a grayed out appearance;
• obtaining a display management action event identifying a management action to be taken by the content management system;
• obtaining a keypress input from the input device;
• identifying a content group corresponding to the keypress input by identifying the representative view associated to the key of the keypress input, and identifying the content group corresponding to the identified representative view;
• and
• implementing the identified management action on the identified content group using the working group.

A computer system for efficiently managing the display of content to a computer user, the computer system comprising:

• a display device for displaying content to the computer user;
• an input device having a plurality of keys for inputting data into the computer system;
• a memory storing a plurality of content groups defined on the computer system, each content group in the plurality of content groups comprising a group of displayable content, and wherein one of the content groups is designated as a working group through which a content group management action on displayable content within each of the plurality of content groups is effectuated;
• and
• a graphics display system configured to render displayable content onto the display device;
• wherein the computer system is configured to detect a content management event, and upon detecting the content management event, the computer system:
• displays a plurality of representative views in a grid arrangement, wherein each representative view corresponds to a defined content group, wherein each representative view also corresponds to one of the keys on the input device and further displays the value of the corresponding key on the representative view, and wherein the grid arrangement corresponds to the arrangement of keys on the input device;
• in an event a particular display content is disassociated from all content groups:
• the particular display content is associated with the working group by default;
• in an event a particular display content associated with a particular content group other than the working group and the display content is retrieved into the working group:
• the particular display content is displayed simultaneously using the working group and the content group. the particular display content represented in a modified format, the modified format comprising one or more modifications selected from a list, the list comprising:
• a dashed border;
• and
• a grayed out appearance;
• obtains a management action event identifying a content group management action to be taken by the computer system;
• obtains a key input from the input device that identifies a content group upon which the content group management action is to be taken;
• and
• carries out the content group management action on the identified content group using the working group.