User Interface for Displaying Selectable Software Functionality Controls that are Relevant to a Selected Object

Abstract

An improved user interface is provided for displaying selectable software functionality controls that are relevant to a selected object and that remain visibly available for use while the selected object is being edited. Upon selection of a particular object for editing, functionality available for editing the object is presented in a ribbon-shaped user interface above the software application workspace to allow the user ready and efficient access to functionality needed for editing the selected object. The display of relevant functionality controls is persisted until the user dismisses the display, selects another top-level functionality control or selects another object for editing.

1 . A method for providing software functionality in a logically organized user interface, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of tabs, each tab representing a subset of software functionality controls;   providing logically grouped sets of selectable controls associated with each tab; and   adjusting a display size of each logically grouped set of selectable controls to accommodate a size of the user interface, wherein adjusting the display size of each logically grouped set of selectable controls comprises at least one of the following:
 amending a display of at least one selectable control within at least one logically grouped set of selectable controls, and 
 rearranging a layout of selectable controls within the at least one logically grouped set of selectable controls. 
   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the logically grouped sets of selectable controls associated with each tab comprises providing at least one of the following: a graphical representation associated with each selectable control and a textual representation associated with each selectable control. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein amending the display of the at least one selectable control within the at least one logically grouped set of selectable controls comprises varying at least one of the following: the textual representation of the at least one selectable control and the graphical representation of the at least one selectable control. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving a first selection of a first tab of the plurality of tabs; and   displaying, in response to the first selection of the first tab, a first set of logically grouped selectable controls associated with the selected first tab.   
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising:
 receiving a second selection of a second tab of the plurality of tabs; and   replacing, in response to the second selection of the second tab, the first set of logically grouped selectable controls associated with the first tab with a second set of logically grouped selectable controls associated with the second tab.   
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving an indication of an object's selection for editing; and   displaying, in response to the indication, logically grouped selectable controls operative for editing the selected object.   
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein displaying, in response to the indication, the logically grouped selectable controls operative for editing the selected object comprises displaying the logically grouped selectable controls operative for editing at least one of the following: a picture object and a text object. 
   
   
       8 . A computer-implemented method for dynamically adjusting a display of software functionality controls within a user interface, the method comprising:
 providing a plurality of selectable tabs, each selectable tab being associated with a software functionality;   providing selectable controls associated with each selectable tab, wherein providing the selectable controls comprises grouping the selectable controls into a plurality of logical groupings;   receiving an indication of user interface size reduction; and   adjusting a display size of at least one logical grouping to accommodate the reduced size of the user interface, wherein adjusting the display size of the at least one logical grouping comprises collapsing the at least one logical grouping into a single selectable control.   
   
   
       9 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein collapsing the at least one logical grouping into the single selectable control comprises collapsing the at least one logical grouping when the user interface lacks sufficient space for displaying each selectable control within the at least one logical grouping. 
   
   
       10 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising, prior to collapsing the at least one logical grouping into the single selectable control, determining at least one of the following: which of the plurality of logical groupings should be collapsed and in which order the logical groupings should be collapsed as available user interface space decreases. 
   
   
       11 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , further comprising, prior to collapsing the at least one logical grouping into the single selectable control, rearranging a layout of selectable controls within the at least one logical grouping. 
   
   
       12 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein providing the selectable controls associated with each selectable tab comprises providing at least one of the following: a textual representation of each selectable control and a graphical representation of each selectable control. 
   
   
       13 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 12 , further comprising, prior to collapsing the at least one logical grouping into the single selectable control, amending a display of at least one selectable control within the at least one logical grouping, wherein amending the display of the at least one selectable control within the at least one logical grouping comprises varying at least one of the following: the textual representation of the at least one selectable control and the graphical representation of the at least one selectable control. 
   
   
       14 . The computer-implemented method of  claim 8 , wherein collapsing the at least one logical grouping into the single selectable control comprises collapsing the at least one logical grouping into the single selectable control for accessing the selectable controls grouped under the at least one logical grouping. 
   
   
       15 . A computer readable medium which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for providing functionality relevant to a selected object in a logically laid out user interface, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:
 providing a first set of selectable controls corresponding to a first functionality of a software application;   grouping the first set of selectable controls into a first set of logically grouped selectable controls;   receiving an indication of a selection of a picture object;   replacing, in response to the selection of the picture object, the first set of selectable controls with a second set of selectable controls corresponding to a second functionality of the software application, the second functionality of the software application corresponding to picture editing functionality;   grouping the second set of selectable controls into a second set of logically grouped selectable controls; and   adjusting a layout of the second set of logically grouped selectable controls to accommodate a size of the user interface, wherein adjusting the layout of the second set of logically grouped selectable controls comprises adjusting a size of each logical grouping of the second set of logically grouped selectable controls until each logical grouping is displayable in the user interface.   
   
   
       16 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , further comprising, prior to replacing the first set of logically grouped selectable controls, providing, in response to the selection of the picture object, a single selectable control operative to, upon selection, cause a display of the second set of selectable controls configured for picture editing functionality. 
   
   
       17 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein providing the first set of selectable controls corresponding to the first functionality of the software application comprises providing the first set of selectable controls under a first selected tab. 
   
   
       18 . The computer readable medium of  claim 17 , wherein replacing, in response to the selection of the picture object, the first set of selectable controls with the second set of selectable controls comprises replacing the first tab corresponding to the first set of selectable controls with a second selected tab corresponding to the second set of selectable controls. 
   
   
       19 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein adjusting the layout of the second set of logically grouped selectable controls to accommodate the size of the user interface comprises at least one of the following:
 amending, as the size of the user interface is changed, a display of at least one selectable control within at least one logical grouping in the second set of logically grouped selectable controls, and   rearranging, as the size of the user interface is changed, a layout of selectable controls within the at least one logical grouping.   
   
   
       20 . The computer readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein adjusting the layout of the second set of logically grouped selectable controls to accommodate the size of the user interface comprises collapsing at least one logical grouping within the second set of logically grouped selectable controls when the user interface lacks sufficient space for displaying each selectable control within the at least one logical grouping.