FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention generally relates to the display of information in a Graphical User Interface (“GUI”), and more particularly to a system and method for managing applications and event notifications using a cursor-based GUI.

BACKGROUND

A GUI is a type of interface that allows users to interact with computers and other electronic devices using visual indicators as opposed to typing in text commands. A typical GUI generally involves the use of a cursor controlled by an interface control (e.g., a mouse or touchpad) where the cursor is used to select a graphical or text based icon to execute a command. The icons are typically organized in a menu that appears on a display screen of the electronic device.

One example of a commonly used GUI is a right-click menu. A right-click menu is a cursor-based drop down menu that appears on the display screen of a computer when the right mouse button is pressed. Right-click menus are traditionally contextual in nature. Thus, the content of the right-click menus typically change depending on the cursor's location on the display screen or the application that is currently running on the computer.

For example,FIGS. 1A-1Gillustrate examples of conventional right-click menus.FIGS. 1A-1Billustrate examples of the right-click menus that appears when opened in a Windows OS desktop and a Mac OS desktop respectively.FIGS. 1C-1Eillustrate the typical right-click menus that appear when invoked within Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and. Microsoft Excel respectively.FIGS. 1F-1Gillustrate the typical right-click menus that appear when invoked within a FireFox Browser and a Microsoft Internet Explorer Browser respectively. As is evident from these examples, the right click menu's content changes depending on the particular application being used.

While context specific right-click menus provide users with quick access to simple commands related to the specific application being used, they are not well suited for managing the computing environment as a whole. For this reason, despite the ease with which they can be accessed, right-click menus tend to be used sparingly by users.

Further, end-users need a single, unified, persistent user interface to reduce the number of steps required to be productive and manage their computing environment. Users often are required to manage multiple applications and event notifications during any computing session. The steps and actions required by users to manage the present environment are arduous, problematic, and without centralization and convenience. For example, to launch an email application, a user must either select the application from the Start Menu, desktop icon, and/or tool tray, or open a browser and navigate to a log-in page to authenticate a web-based service to begin a session. Additionally, end-users have to manage several applications concurrently, as well as multiple dialogue boxes and notification types native to each application, during that session. This creates frustration and reduces productivity.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Embodiments of the present invention provide systems and methods for management of applications and event notifications in a cursor-based GUI. In one embodiment of the present invention, applications and notifications are centrally managed using a cursor-based menu. In this embodiment, the menu, which is located adjacent to a cursor, provides end-users with the ability to manage a multiplicity of unrelated applications and event notifications through the use of a single, unified and persistent interface that is non-intrusive and convenient to use.

In another embodiment of the invention, the cursor-based menu is a right-click menu. The right-click menu can contain a plurality of conventional contextual right-click command menu items as well as a persistent application manager item to access an application menu including one or more persistent applications.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the cursor-based menu includes application log-in, access and authentication features.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the cursor-based menu can be fully customized and configured by an end-user.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, event, data and/or message notifications can automatically be provided to the user via the cursor and/or cursor environment.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, the cursor-based menu is associated with applications that are dynamically updated, wherein the dynamic updates occur in the background of any electronic device.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, various aspects of the applications associated with the cursor-based GUI may be previewed by the user prior to launching any application.

In yet another embodiment of the invention, a centralized application management system manages and/or monitors a plurality of applications outside of the host computer (e.g, on a server), thereby providing a constant online presence with respect to those applications. Access to the centralized applications management system can be cursor-based (e.g., through a right-click menu).

Embodiments of the present invention may be conveniently implemented using a conventional general purpose or a specialized digital computer or microprocessor programmed according to the teachings of the present disclosure. Appropriate software coding can readily be prepared by skilled programmers based on the teachings of the present disclosure, as will be apparent to those skilled in the software art.

In some embodiments, the present invention includes a computer program product which is a storage medium (media) having instructions stored thereon/in which can be used to program a computer to perform any of the processes of the present invention. The storage medium can include, but is not limited to, any type of disk including floppy disks, optical discs, DVD, CD-ROMs, microdrive, and magneto-optical disks, ROMs, RAMs, EPROMs, EEPROMs, DRAMs, VRAMs, flash memory devices, magnetic or optical cards, nanosystems (including molecular memory ICs), or any type of media or device suitable for storing instructions and/or data.

One advantage of an embodiment of the present invention is that a user can reduce the number of steps required to manage their computer environment. This is accomplished by using the cursor based menu to be the centralized manager for applications, application event notifications, application log-in/access/authentication, and finding capabilities. The end result is an environment where a multiplicity of applications can be “brought to the cursor” regardless of context or environment (i.e., in a browser, in an application, on a desktop, etc.) for greater convenience and visibility.

Another advantage of an embodiment of the present invention is that it provides users with the ability to click one button on a mouse to preview notifications from different applications (e.g., email messages, messages from Facebook, instant messages, etc.) in a non-intrusive manner.

Further details and advantages of embodiments of the present invention are set forth below.

