# US 8,465,370 B2 · Application-centric user interface techniques > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,465,370 B2 - Document ID: US8465370B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/157,235 - Filed: 2011-06-09 - Published: 2011-09-29 - Granted: 2013-06-18 - Earliest claimed: 2003-03-27 - Assignees: Microsoft Corporation - Applicants: C. Shane Evans; Roderick M. Toll; G. Andrew Johnston - Inventors: C. Shane Evans; Roderick M. Toll; G. Andrew Johnston - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8465370B2 ## CPC - G06T 11/60: Creating or editing images; Combining images with text - A63F 13/48: Starting a game, e.g. activating a game device or waiting for other players to join a multiplayer session - A63F 13/493: Resuming a game, e.g. after pausing, malfunction or power failure - A63F 13/533: for prompting the player, e.g. by displaying a game menu - A63F 13/77: involving data related to game devices or game servers, e.g. configuration data, software version or amount of memory - A63F 13/792: for payment purposes, e.g. monthly subscriptions - A63F 13/795: for finding other players; for building a team; for providing a buddy list - A63F 13/87: Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat - G06F 9/451: Execution arrangements for user interfaces - A63F 2300/209: characterized by low level software layer, relating to hardware management, e.g. Operating System, Application Programming Interface - A63F 2300/308: Details of the user interface - A63F 2300/5513: involving billing - A63F 2300/552: for downloading to client devices, e.g. using OS version, hardware or software profile of the client device - A63F 2300/556: Player lists, e.g. online players, buddy list, black list - A63F 2300/572: Communication between players during game play of non game information, e.g. e-mail, chat, file transfer, streaming of audio and streaming of video - A63F 2300/636: involving process of starting or resuming a game - G06T: IMAGE DATA PROCESSING OR GENERATION, IN GENERAL - A63F: CARD, BOARD, OR ROULETTE GAMES; INDOOR GAMES USING SMALL MOVING PLAYING BODIES; VIDEO GAMES; GAMES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract Various application-centric user interface techniques are described. A user can easily launch, add, or update applications. An application-centric activity center can be presented as part of a user interface for an operating system shell. A file defining metadata for an application can be defined. The techniques can be applied to game-related software. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system comprising: a computing device configured for displaying, within a game pane of an application-centric user interface, information about a plurality of videogames; the computing device further configured for displaying, within a user pane of the application-centric user interface, a user profile of a user; the computing device further configured for displaying, within a chat pane of the application-centric user interface, a buddy list that includes a buddy of the user, wherein the buddy list includes information that identifies a multiplayer videogame of the plurality of videogames; and the chat pane of the application-centric user interface configured for sending to the buddy an invite to join the multiplayer videogame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein a portion of the plurality of videogames are stored on the computing device and another portion of the plurality of videogames are available for purchase from a provider. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the user profile includes a depiction and username that are each associated with the user. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the user profile includes information that identifies a videogame usage history of the user. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the information about a plurality of videogames comprises a list that is limited to the videogames. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the displayings are in response to the user accessing a folder. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1 wherein the user profile includes a motto of the user. ### Claim 8 A method comprising: displaying, by a computer within a game pane of an application-centric user interface, information about a plurality of videogames; displaying, by the computing device within a user pane of the application-centric user interface, a user profile of a user; displaying, by the computing device within a chat pane of the application-centric user interface, a buddy list that includes a buddy of the user, wherein the buddy list includes information that identifies a multiplayer videogame of the plurality of videogames; and the chat pane of the application-centric user interface configured for sending to the buddy an invite to join the multiplayer videogame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein a portion of the plurality of videogames are stored on the computing device and another portion of the plurality of videogames are available for purchase from a provider. ### Claim 10 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the user profile includes a depiction and username that are each associated with the user. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the user profile includes information that identifies a videogame usage history of the user. ### Claim 12 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the information about a plurality of videogames comprises a list that is limited to the videogames. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the displayings are in response to the user accessing a folder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 8) The method of claim 8 wherein the user profile includes a motto of the user. ### Claim 15 At least one storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising: displaying, by a computer within a game pane of an application-centric user interface, information about a plurality of videogames; displaying, by the computing device within a user pane of the application-centric user interface, a user profile of a user; displaying, by the computing device within a chat pane of the application-centric user interface, a buddy list that includes a buddy of the user, wherein the buddy list includes information that identifies a multiplayer videogame of the plurality of videogames; and the chat pane of the application-centric user interface configured for sending to the buddy an invite to join the multiplayer videogame. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The at least one storage device of claim 15 wherein a portion of the plurality of videogames are stored on the computing device and another portion of the plurality of videogames are available for purchase from a provider. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The at least one storage device of claim 15 wherein the user profile includes a depiction, username, and motto that are each associated with the user. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The at least one storage device of claim 15 wherein the user profile includes information that identifies a videogame usage history of the user. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The at least one storage device of claim 15 wherein the information about a plurality of videogames comprises a list that is limited to the videogames. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) The at least one storage device of claim 15 wherein the displayings are in response to the user accessing a folder.