Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2000-01-27
2004-04-20
Nguyen, Cao (Kevin) (Department: 2173)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06724402
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to computer applications that identify and launch programs within a graphical user interface.
2. Description of the Related Art
As computers have proliferated, more people having less technical knowledge of computers, are depending on computers for various aspects of the personal life, as well as in their professions. To make computers easier to use (especially for non-programmers), graphical user interfaces have been added to computers. Graphical user interfaces de-emphasize the use of text programming commands and instead use more intuitive devices like icons to identify, launch, and manipulate programs. For purposes of this application, the term “programs” is to be construed broadly so as to include all computer files including but not limited to applications, documents, programs, and shortcuts. Graphical user interfaces commonly employ an input device known as mouse with which the user can control programs and input data without using a keyboard. For example, users can launch programs by using their mouse to move a cursor over an icon that represents the program and then selecting the icon by clicking on it. Even when using a graphical user interface, a user often must navigate through several folders (also known as directories) and sub-folders to reach the program that is to be launched because programs are located in a file system hierarchy. If a user does not know the exact location of the program, the user may lose time when searching for the program.
To provide access to files that may be buried within the file system hierarchy, graphical user interfaces now include shortcuts. Shortcuts relate to another program and launch that program even when the program is buried in the file system. By placing shortcuts in an easily reachable area such as the desktop or start menu, a user easily can launch the program even when it is buried within the filing system hierarchy.
In the WINDOWS® operating system or environment, the most common types of shortcuts are desktop shortcuts and start-menu shortcuts. Desktop shortcuts exist in the folder of the graphical user interface that is shown by default; this default folder is known as the “desktop”. Therefore, desktop shortcuts allow the user to launch programs directly from the desktop without searching the file system. Start-menu shortcuts are usually arranged in a hierarchy that resembles the file system and include shortcuts that allow the user to reach important and often used files quickly.
The ease of use of graphical user interfaces provided by features such as those listed above have increased their popularity. Graphical user interfaces such as those sold under the trademarks WINDOWS®, MacOS®, and LINUX® are among the most used programs in the world. Of these, WINDOWS® is the most popular. Because WINDOWS® is so prevalent, it will be used as an example to detail the shortcoming prevalent in all graphical user interfaces.
One problem with WINDOWS® and other graphical user interfaces is that they require significant amounts of time (minutes) to boot. The long boot time increases as more large-sized programs load during the boot process. One group of programs that increase the boot time is shortcuts. Shortcuts typically include a graphical image or “icon” associated with the shortcut. When the icon includes high-resolution graphics and many colors, the file size and memory consumption likewise increase; this slows booting. Even when the file size of an individual shortcut may be small, the total memory consumed increases when a number of shortcuts are aggregated. Start-menu icons consume memory and slow booting in the same way as desktop shortcuts.
Another problem with WINDOWS is that the desktop may become cluttered with unwanted shortcuts. When new programs are installed, the application often will create a desktop shortcut and start-menu shortcut automatically. Over time, the desktop and start menu become cluttered with shortcuts that the user does not use or require. In addition, these unused shortcuts make differentiating important icons from the clutter of unwanted shortcuts more difficult. Similarly, as the start menu becomes more cluttered, users have difficulty locating the important often-used shortcuts from the clutter.
Attempts have been made in the past to provide shortcuts for launching applications and to speed the booting of WINDOWS®. None of these previous attempts have been able to provide a customizable method of launching programs that does not slow the booting of a graphical user interface such as WINDOWS®.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,897,257, issued to Chen discloses a “Keyboard with Expandable Function Keys.” This invention is a hardware solution that adds buttons to a keyboard that launches programs when pressed. The invention does not speed the booting of WINDOWS®. The user also cannot customize the keyboard to provide shortcuts to the user's chosen programs after the keyboard has been manufactured.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,877,765, issued to Dickman, et al. discloses a “Method and System for Displaying Internet Shortcut Icons on the Desktop.” The invention involves the creation of desktop shortcuts that point to remote resources such as Internet URL's. The invention does nothing to speed the loading of windows. In fact, the shortcuts proposed by Dickman et al. are at least some of the type of problems that the present invention is intended to eliminate.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,003, issued to Voce discloses a “Quick Access to Computer Applications.” The invention relates to locking an application in memory (RAM or ROM) before putting the computer to sleep (not turning the computer off completely and rebooting), so that the computer can quickly load the application without the normal delays of loading the application from the hard drive. The invention does not streamline the booting of WINDOWS®, nor does it provide shortcuts to launch programs.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,404,524, issued to Celi discloses a “System for Identifying Attached Input Pointing Devices, Loading Associated Software Routines, and Interacting with Anyone Input Pointing Device While Disabling the Others.” This invention involves the use of several input devices such as a mouse, trackball, and touch pad. According to the invention, drivers for all of the devices are loaded at booting and then one device is selected at a given time. The input device can be switched without exiting any open applications. Because multiple drivers are loaded during booting, this invention actually slows the booting process. In addition, the invention does not provide desktop shortcuts.
The prior art demonstrates a clear need for improvements in graphical user interfaces such as WINDOWS®. Specifically, it is needed in the art for a quick, easy, customizable method of launching programs that does not slow the booting of the graphical user interface.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention encompasses a method of identifying computer programs existing within a graphical user interface. The method can also include steps to organize the interface by deleting the redundant and resource-consuming shortcuts that relate to the identified programs. The invention also includes a method of launching identified programs based on the identifiers created according to the first method. To execute these methods, the invention also encompasses a computer application capable of executing each of the above-described methods. The applications of the present invention are preferably launched either by keyboard or mouse click.
The invention also encompasses a method of launching a program within a graphical user interface and reducing the time required to boot the graphical user interface. This method preferably comprises the following steps: creating an identifier for a program that exists within a graphical user interface, associating said identifier with said program, storing said identifier in an application, and having said application launch said program whenever said identifier is entered into said application. The method
Malin Haley & DiMaggio, P.A.
Nguyen Cao (Kevin)
LandOfFree
Method of launching computer programs within a graphical... does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Method of launching computer programs within a graphical..., we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Method of launching computer programs within a graphical... will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3207735