Operating system program launch menu search

One or more computer storage media storing computer executable instructions which, when executed, perform a method for displaying search results within a predefined area, said method comprising steps of:

• (a) upon receiving user input to initiate a start menu, displaying a start menu having a search text input box on a display device directly or indirectly connected to the computer system, wherein said displaying the start menu is a single navigation step from receiving said user input;
• (b) automatically providing an input focus that directs input text to the search text input box within the start menu for a user to enter text corresponding to the start menu, wherein said search text input box receives said input focus upon displaying the start menu on the display device in response to the detection that the user has pressed the start menu key and without requiring any further input from the user such that the user can immediately begin typing text in the search text input box without first providing any input other than providing said user input to initiate said start menu;
• (c) displaying search results within a predefined area of the start menu each time text input is received from the user via the search text input box, said search results comprising one or more user-selectable items identifiable by an operating system of the computer system, said user-selectable items matching query input received from the user via the search text input box, and wherein the search results comprise at least one valid item comprising at least one launched application stored on the computer system;
• (d) automatically providing selection focus to a top search result, wherein the top search result is determined by applying one or more rules to the search results;
• and
• (e) launching the selectable item corresponding to the top search result in response to another user input while the input focus is on the search text input box and while the top search result has selection focus, wherein said selectable item is launched without any further input from the user.

One or more computer storage media storing computer executable instructions that, when executed on a computer system, perform a method for providing a keyboard shortcut for launching an item stored on a computer system, said method comprising steps of:

• (a) upon detection that a user has pressed a start menu key on a keyboard directly or indirectly connected to the computer system, displaying a start menu having a search text input box on a display device directly or indirectly connected to the computer system, wherein said displaying the start menu is a single navigation step from the start button menu key;
• (b) upon displaying the start menu, automatically providing an input focus that directs input text to the search text input box for the user to enter input text within the start menu displayed on the computer display device, wherein said search text input box receives said input focus upon displaying the start menu on the display device, and wherein said automatically providing said input focus includes navigating directly to the search text input box from the start button without further interaction from the user,
• (c) displaying search results automatically within a predefined area of the-start menu each time input text is received from the user via the search text input box, wherein the search results comprise selectable items matching input text received from the user via the search text input box;
• (d) automatically providing selection focus to a top search result, wherein the top search result is determined by applying one or more rules to the search results;
• and
• (e) launching a selectable item corresponding to the top search result in response to another user input while the input focus is on the search text input box and while the top search result has selection focus, wherein said selectable item is launched without further input from the user.