# US 8,751,951 B2 · Controlling computer-based instances

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- Number: US 8,751,951 B2
- Document ID: US8751951B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 12/882,231
- Filed: 2010-09-15
- Published: 2012-03-15
- Granted: 2014-06-10
- Earliest claimed: 2010-09-15
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: Hema J. Kaprani; Vinay V. Peshave; Anand G. Umbare; Dinesh G. Wadekar
- Inventors: Hema J. Kaprani; Vinay V. Peshave; Anand G. Umbare; Dinesh G. Wadekar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8751951B2

## CPC

- G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
- G06F 3/0481: based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
- G06F 3/04817: using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34)
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 3/0487: using specific features provided by the input device, e.g. functions controlled by the rotation of a mouse with dual sensing arrangements, or of the nature of the input device, e.g. tap gestures based on pressure sensed by a digitiser
- G06F 9/48: Program initiating; Program switching, e.g. by interrupt
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)

## Abstract

In general, embodiments of the present invention provide an approach to control computer-based interfaces from anywhere in a GUI (e.g. a window, a desktop, etc.) regardless of the fixed position of the instances. Specifically, using a pointing device or the like (e.g., by right clicking), a user can activate an instance control function that allows the user to open an instance, close an instance, and/or or switch between running instances. Along these lines, the instance control function can be activated by interacting with an icon, a window (e.g., corresponding a folder or a running instance), or a desktop. Once activated, the instance control function allows the user full control over instances.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for controlling computer-based instances, comprising:
in response to receiving a selection of an empty location of a desktop screen of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for a computer, displaying an instance control function comprising a point of access to a window comprising instance categories;
determining whether at least one of the instance categories is left-clicked or right-clicked;
in response to determining that the at least one of the instance categories is right-clicked, displaying an option to launch a new instance corresponding to the right-clicked instance category, receiving a selection of the option, and launching the new instance;
in response to determining that the at least one of the instance categories is left-clicked, displaying a second window comprising a list of computer-based instances corresponding to the selected at least one of the categories in the GUI, receiving a selection of an instance from the list, the selection indicating a desired action for the selected instance, and controlling the selected instance based upon the desired action.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the selection of an empty location of a desktop screen comprising a right click of a pointing device.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the instance corresponding to at least one of the following: an application, a file, or a folder.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the point of access comprising an icon.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, the desired action comprising at least one of the following: closing the instance, switching to the instance, or launching a new instance.

### Claim 6

A system for controlling computer-based instances, comprising:
a bus;
a processor coupled to the bus; and
a memory medium coupled to the bus, the memory medium comprising instructions to:
in response to receiving a selection of an empty location of a desktop screen of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for a computer, display an instance control function comprising a point of access to a window comprising instance categories;
in response to receiving a selection of at least one of the instance categories through the window, display a second window comprising a list of computer-based instances corresponding to the selected at least one of the categories in the GUI;
determine whether at least one of the instance categories is left-clicked or right-clicked;
in response to determining that the at least one of the instance categories is right-clicked, display an option to launch a new instance corresponding to the right-clicked instance category, receiving a selection of the option, and launching the new instance;
in response to determining that the at least one of the instance categories is left-clicked, display a second window comprising a list of computer-based instances corresponding to the selected at least one of the categories in the GUI, receive a selection of an instance from the list, the selection indicating a desired action for the selected instance, and control the selected instance based upon the desired action.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, the selection of the empty location of a desktop screen comprising a right click of a pointing device.

### Claim 8 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, the instance corresponding to at least one of the following: an application, a file, or a folder.

### Claim 9 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, the point of access comprising an icon.

### Claim 10 (depends on 6)

The system of claim 6, the desired action comprising at least one of the following: closing the instance, switching to the instance, or launching a new instance.

### Claim 11

A computer program product for controlling computer-based instances, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage media and program instructions stored on the computer readable storage media, to:
in response to receiving a selection of an empty location of a desktop screen of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for a computer, display an instance control function comprising a point of access to a window comprising instance categories;
determine whether at least one of the instance categories is left-clicked or right-clicked;
in response to determining that the at least one of the instance categories is right-clicked, display an option to launch a new instance corresponding to the right-clicked instance category, receiving a selection of the option, and launching the new instance;
in response to determining that the at least one of the instance categories is left-clicked, display a second window comprising a list of computer-based instances corresponding to the selected at least one of the categories in the GUI, receive a selection of an instance from the list, the selection indicating a desired action for the selected instance, and control the selected instance based upon the desired action.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The computer program product of claim 11, the selection of the empty location of a desktop screen comprising a right click of a pointing device.

### Claim 13 (depends on 11)

The computer program product of claim 11, the instance corresponding to at least one of the following: an application, a file, or a folder.

### Claim 14 (depends on 11)

The computer program product of claim 11, the point of access comprising an icon.

### Claim 15 (depends on 11)

The computer program product of claim 11, the desired action comprising at least one of the following: closing the instance, switching to the instance, or launching a new instance.

### Claim 16

A method for deploying a system for controlling computer-based instances, comprising:
providing a computer infrastructure being operable to:
in response to receiving a selection of an empty location of a desktop screen of a Graphical User Interface (GUI) for a computer, display an instance control function comprising a point of access to a window comprising instance categories;
determine whether at least one of the instance categories is left-clicked or right-clicked;
in response to determining that the at least one of the instance categories is right-clicked, display an option to launch a new instance corresponding to the right-clicked instance category, receiving a selection of the option, and launching the new instance;
in response to determining that the at least one of the instance categories is left-clicked, display a second window comprising a list of computer-based instances corresponding to the selected at least one of the categories in the GUI, receive a selection of an instance from the list, the selection indicating a desired action for the selected instance, and control the selected instance based upon the desired action.