Methods and apparatuses to control application programs

[0001] Embodiments of the invention relate to graphical user interfaces (“GUIs”). More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to controlling application programs.

[0002] Data processing systems, e.g., desktop computers, laptop computers, personal digital assistants, and the like, use display devices (e.g., computer monitors) to show still and moving images on a screen. Graphical user interfaces are created for a user to interact with a data processing system using various images, e.g., icons, windows, text characters, and other objects. Images shown on a screen of a display device may represent programs, files, folders, or other items, e.g., an application launcher (e.g., a “dock interface”). For example, by positioning a pointer (“cursor”) to an icon and pressing a mouse button, the user executes a command, opens a file represented by the icon into a window, moves the icon around the display screen, or launches an application program. Typically, a user operates the application program executed by a processor through one or more windows displayed on the screen of the display device.

[0003] The docking interface (“Dock” such as the dock displayed on Macintosh computers which run Macintosh OS 10.2 or 10.3 or 10.4, etc.) is a graphical user interface that contains icons for frequently used programs. The Dock may indicate the program's current state (e.g., running or not running). The Dock may indicate the current state of the program by showing a symbol, e.g., an ellipsis, or triangle, below or adjacent its icon if the program is not running and nothing if it is currently running.

[0004] Typically, positioning a cursor over the icon in the Dock that represents non-operating application program and pressing the mouse button causes the non-operating application to launch. Typically, positioning the cursor over the icon in the Dock that represents an executing application program and pressing the mouse button brings the executing application program to the front of the screen.

[0005] As the performance of data processing systems increases, efficient use of the screen space of the display device becomes important. This is especially important for data processing systems having relatively small screens, e.g., laptop computers and personal digital assistants (PDAs).

[0006] Methods and apparatuses for controlling application programs are described. In one embodiment, a first item and a dock interface having a second item are displayed on a screen space. A selection of the first item is received. A proxy of the first item is positioned over the second item. Next, a window is displayed in response to the positioning. An application is executed to display the window.

[0007] In at least certain embodiments, a user may drag an icon (e.g., dragging a file's icon) onto an icon of an application program displayed on the dock and, if the application program is not already executing, the drag which cause the application program to be launched and at this point, the user may continue the drag by, for example, positioning the icon over a displayed command interface (e.g., a button or menu item or tab item) of the launched application program and cause the command, represented by the displayed command interface, to be executed by the positioning of the icon, while still continuing the drag, over the displayed command interface.

[0008] In another embodiment, synchronizing a first docking interface on a first screen space of a first machine to a second docking interface on a second screen space of a second machine is performed. The first docking interface has an item that identifies a first application supported by the first machine and the second docking interface has another item that identifies a second application supported by the second machine.

[0038] The subject invention will be described with references to numerous details set forth below, and the accompanying drawings will illustrate the invention. The following description and drawings are illustrative of the invention and are not to be construed as limiting the invention. Numerous specific details are described to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However, in certain instances, well known or conventional details are not described in order to not unnecessarily obscure the present invention in detail.

[0039] Reference throughout the specification to “one embodiment”, “another embodiment”, or “an embodiment” means that a particular feature, structure, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the present invention. Thus, the appearance of the phrases “in one embodiment” or “in an embodiment” in various places throughout the specification are not necessarily all referring to the same embodiment. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0040] The present description includes material protected by copyrights, such as illustrations of graphical user interface images. The owners of the copyrights, including the assignee of the present invention, hereby reserve their rights, including copyright, in these materials. The copyright owner has no objection to the facsimile reproduction by anyone of the patent document or the patent disclosure, as it appears in the Patent and Trademark Office file or records, but otherwise reserves all copyrights whatsoever. Copyright Apple Computer, Inc. 2006.

[0041] Methods and apparatuses for controlling application programs on a screen space of a display device in a data processing system that include dock syncing and dock springing and a system having a computer readable medium containing a program code for controlling application programs on a screen space of a display device that include dock syncing and dock springing are described below. Other methods and other features are also described.

[0042] FIG. 1A shows one embodiment of a screen space of a display device of a data processing system to control application programs that involves dock springing. As shown in FIG. 1A, a screen space 101 displays a menu 103, a docking interface 111, and an application window 105. Menu 103 displays identifiers for actions that can be performed when the application program App. 1 is executed, such as “Edit”, “View”, “File”, and the like. Application program window 105 for App. 1 includes one or more items 104 that represent application programs, files, and folders, as shown in FIG. 1A. Typically, the application window is an enclosed, rectangular area on the screen space which can be moved around the screen and can be caused to appear and to be removed by a command from the user. Within different windows, a user can run different programs or display different data. Typically, an application receives a user input through the application window.

[0043] An application window may have a variety of characteristics or features including one or more of the following: (a) a moveable and resizable container having borders; (b) scroll controls, such as scroll arrows, to scroll the contents of the window; (c) the window can receive user input such as text entry (e.g. through typing or copying and pasting of text) or cursor entry events (e.g. selection of buttons or commands within a window) or dragging and dropping of an object.

[0044] Dock interface 111 can include one or more items representing application programs, e.g., user level applications and system level applications, folders, URLs, and the like. Generally, a dock may be considered a displayed region, on a display device, which includes icons of application programs and possibly icons of user created folders or files, and the like, and those application programs can be launched (or if already executing, have their windows brought to the foreground) by selecting the icon on the dock for one of those application programs. Another example of such a displayed region is the toolbar (or task bar) typically displayed at the bottom of a screen sp0ace in a Microsoft Windows operating system (e.g., Windows XP). Yet another example of such a displayed region is a dashboard that may contain such application programs to provide weather information, traffic information, and other useful information. As shown in FIG. 1A, dock interface 111 includes items 113, 115, 116, 117, and 119. For example, item 113 represents an application program 1 (“App. 1), item 115 represents an application program 2 (“App. 2”), item 116 represents an application 3 (“App. 3”), item 117 represents an URL, and item 119 represents a folder. Application programs may be, for example, Word®, Outlook®, Acrobat®, Photoshop®, Finder®, Explorer®, or any other application programs known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems. In one embodiment, items 113, 115, 116, 117, 119 are images, e.g., icons, texts, symbols, or any combination thereof. Any content, e.g., applications, folders, URLs that is represented by an item displayed the dock interface 111 can be “sprung”. For example, springing of an executing application program causes the application program to appear on the front of screen space 101. For example, springing of the application that is not currently executed causes launching the application. Springing of the content of the dock can be performed by selecting one of the items displayed on the docking interface 111, e.g., by positioning a cursor over the item and pressing or double-pressing a mouse button, or by any other method known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1A, one of items 104 is selected to become a selected item 109. For example, selected item 109 may represent a file containing a picture, a document, a flowchart presentation, or any other file. In one embodiment, selection of item 109 is performed by positioning cursor 107 over one of items 104. In another embodiment, a user performs selection of item 109 by positioning a cursor 107 over one of items 104 and then pressing a button of a mouse (“clicking”). In an embodiment, a selection of one or more items 104 may be performed by using an audio signal, voice, striking and holding of one or more keys on a keyboard, or by any other mechanisms known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems. In one embodiment, the selected item 109 has a proxy that can be moved over screen space 101. In one embodiment, the proxy can be created by positioning a cursor over one or the items 104 and pressing the mouse. In another embodiment, the proxy can be created using any other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems. In one embodiment, an item that is positioned on a desktop of a screen space 101 outside window 405 is selected.

[0046] FIG. 9 shows one embodiment of a flowchart of a method to control application programs. Method 900 begins with operation 901 that involves displaying a first item and a docking interface having a second item on a screen space, as described above. Method 900 continues with operation 902 that involves receiving a selection of the first item to create a proxy, as described above. Next, operation 903 is performed that involves positioning the proxy of the first item over (e.g., adjacent to) the second item.

[0047] FIG. 1B shows a view similar to FIG. 1A, after positioning proxy 108 of the selected item 109 over item 115. As shown in FIG. 1B, item 115 that represents App. 2 is displayed in Dock 111. In one embodiment, proxy 108 is positioned over item 115 by dragging using cursor 107. For an embodiment, proxy 108 may be positioned over item 115 using, e.g., a voice command, a keypad, or any other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems. For another embodiment, proxy 108 is positioned at a predetermined distance from item 115. The predetermined distance may be, for example, in the approximate range of 0 to 5 millimeters (“mm”) from item 115.

[0048] Referring back to FIG. 9, method 900 continues with operation 904 that involves displaying a window having a third item when a proxy of the first item is positioned over the second item, wherein an application is executing to display the window, as described below. In one embodiment, operation 904 of displaying the window involves launching the application if the application was not executing. In another embodiment, operation 904 of displaying the window involves bringing the window of the executing application, as described in further detail below. In one embodiment, an operation (not shown) is performed that involves determining whether a predetermined amount of time of positioning the proxy of the first item over the second item has expired. If the predetermined time has expired, the application window is automatically displayed. If the predetermined time has not yet expired, the application window is not displayed. In one embodiment, the predetermined amount of time is set by the user.

[0049] FIG. 1C shows a view similar to FIG. 1B, after a window 131 of App. 2 is displayed in response to positioning proxy 108 over item 115. App. 2 is executing to display window 131. In one embodiment, displaying window 131 involves launching of the App. 2. In another embodiment, displaying window 131 involves bringing the App. 2 to the front of the screen space, as described in further detail below with respect to FIG. 2.

[0050] In one embodiment, window 131 of App. 2 is displayed after determining whether a predetermined amount of time of positioning proxy 108 over item 115 has expired. If the predetermined time has expired, the application window 131 is automatically displayed. If the predetermined time has not yet expired, the application window 131 is not displayed. In one embodiment, the predetermined amount of time is set by the user, and can be in the approximate range of 0-20 seconds.

[0051] In one embodiment, positioning of proxy 108 over item 115 includes collecting a first information that is represented by proxy 108 and a second information that is represented by item 115 and then comparing these two informations. If the first information is not compatible with the second information, positioning of proxy 108 over item 115 does not cause displaying window 131. For example, if a type of the file represented by proxy 108 is not compatible with an application represented by item 115, positioning of proxy 108 over item 115 does not cause displaying window 131.

[0052] As shown in FIG. 1C, a menu 124 that contains one or more items representing functions that can be performed by App. 2 is displayed on screen space 101. Window 131 contains one or more items 132. Each of the items 132 represents an action that can be performed by App. 2. In one embodiment, items 132 represent a default action that can be performed by App. 2. For example, items 132 can represent an action to open a new document, open an existing document, saving a document, and any other action depending on the program application. For one embodiment, items 132 may represent controls of the data processing system. As shown in FIG. 1C, one of items 132 is selected to become a selected item 123. For example, selected item 123 can represent a command to open a new document. In one embodiment, a user performs selection by continuing to position a proxy 108 over one of items 132 to create a selected item 123. In another embodiment, proxy 108 is positioned at a predetermined distance from one of items 132 to create a selected item 123 In one embodiment, continuing of the positioning of proxy 108 over one of items 132 is performed by continuing to drag proxy 108 over one of items 132 to create selected item 123. In another embodiment, continuing of the positioning of the proxy 108 over one of items 132 is performed using an audio signal, voice, striking and holding of one or more keys on a keyboard, or by any other mechanisms known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems. Referring back to FIG. 9, method 900 continues with operation 905 that involves continue to positioning the proxy of the first item over the third item, as described above. Next, an action that corresponds to the third item is performed at operation 906. In one embodiment, an operation is performed (not shown) that involves determining whether a predetermined amount of time of positioning of the proxy of the first item over the third item has expired. If the predetermined time has expired, the action is automatically performed. If the predetermined time has not yet expired, the action is not performed. In one embodiment, the predetermined amount of time is set by the user.

[0053] FIG. 1D shows a view similar to FIG. 1C, after displaying a new document window 106 in response to positioning proxy 108 over selected item 123 or at a predetermined distance from selected item 123. That is, positioning of a proxy over a visual interface, e.g., selected item 123, or at a predetermined distance from the visual interface causes actuation (springing) of this visual interface (e.g., selected item 123). In one embodiment, springing an application from dock 111, and springing (actuation) of the visual interface (e.g., menu items, buttons, and other controls) involves continuously dragging of the proxy of a selected object over a selected icon in dock 111 and over selected visual interface through the entire sequence with a single click of the mouse button.

[0054] In one embodiment, displaying new document window 106 is performed after proxy 108 is positioned over selected item 123 for a predetermined amount of time, e.g., in the approximate range of 0 to 50 seconds. In one embodiment, the predetermined amount of time is set by the user.

[0055] FIG. 1E shows a view similar to FIG. 1D, after proxy 108 of the item 109 positioned into document window 136 is released. In one embodiment, proxy 108 can be released by releasing the mouse button. For another embodiment, proxy can be released using, a voice command, a keypad, or any other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing devices. As shown in FIG. 1E, document window 106 contains a document 136. As shown in FIG. 1E, a picture 125 is inserted into document 136.

[0056] FIG. 10 shows a flowchart of another embodiment of a method to control application programs. Method 1000 begins with operation 1001 that involves displaying a first window having a first item and a dock having a second item on a screen space, wherein a first application is executing to display the first window. Next, a selection of the first item is received in operation 1002. Further, operation 1003 that involves dragging a proxy of the first item along the screen space to position over the second item is performed. Next, displaying a second window having a third item when the proxy of the first item is dragged over the second item is performed. A second application is executing to display the second window. Next, operation 1005 that involves dragging the proxy of the first item to position over the third item is performed. Further, operation 1006 is performed that involves displaying a third window on the screen space when the proxy of the first item is dragged over the third item. The third window is displayed in response to performing a default function represented by the third item. Operations 1001-1006 were described above. Next, a determination is made at operation 1007 whether the first item is a proper item. If the first item is a proper item, the proxy of the first item is dropped into the third window in operation 1008. If the first item is not a proper item, the proxy of the first item is positioned outside the third window. Next, the third window is removed from the screen space in operation 1010 in response to positioning the proxy of the first item outside the third window. In one embodiment, dragging of the proxy of the first item is performed continuously with a single pressing (“click”) of the mouse button throughout the entire sequence of operations 1003-1008 or the entire sequence of operations 1003-1010.

[0057] FIG. 1F shows a view similar to FIG. 1D, after proxy 108 is positioned outside application window 106. In one embodiment, proxy 108 is positioned outside application window 106 by continuing to drag proxy 108 using cursor 107. In another embodiment, proxy 108 is positioned outside application window 106 using, e.g., a voice command, a keypad, or any other method known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems.

[0058] FIG. 1G shows a view similar to FIG. 1F, after window 106 is automatically removed from screen space 101 in response to positioning proxy 108 outside the application window.

[0059] FIG. 2A shows another embodiment of a screen space of a display device of a data processing system to control application programs. As shown in FIG. 2A, a screen space 201 displays a menu 203, a docking interface 211, an application window of App. 1 205 on the front of the screen space 201, and a portion of an application window App. 2 on the back of the screen space 201. Menu 203 displays identifiers for actions that can be performed when the application program App. 1 is executed, such as “Edit”, “View”, “File”, and the like. Application program window of App. 1 205 includes one or more items 204 that represent application programs, files, and folders, as shown in FIG. 2A. Docking interface 211 can include one or more items representing application programs, e.g., user level applications and system level applications, folders, URLs, and the like. As shown in FIG. 2A, docking interface 211 includes items 213, 215, 216, 217, and 219. For example, item 213 may represent an application program 1 (“App. 1”), item 215 may represent an application program 2 (“App. 2”), item 216 may represent an application 3 (“App. 3”), item 217 may represent an URL, and item 219 may represent a folder. In one embodiment, items 213, 215, 216, 217, 219 images, e.g., icons, texts, symbols, or any combination thereof. As shown in FIG. 2A, one of items 204 is selected to become a selected item 209. For example, selected item 209 may represent a file containing a picture, as shown in FIG. 2A. In one embodiment, selected item 209 has a proxy that can be moved over screen space 201. In one embodiment, selection is performed by positioning cursor 207 over one of items 204. In another embodiment, a user performs selection by positioning a cursor 207 over one of items 204 and then pressing the mouse button. In another embodiment, a selection of one of items 204 is performed by using an audio signal, voice, striking and holding of one or more keys on a keyboard, or by any other mechanisms known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems. FIG. 2B shows a view similar to FIG. 2A, after positioning proxy 208 of selected item 209 over item 215. As shown in FIG. 1B, item 215 that represents executing application program App. 2 is displayed in Dock 211. As shown in FIG. 2B, an application window 202 of executing operation App. 2 is hidden behind application window 205 of executing operation App. 1. In one embodiment, proxy 208 is positioned over item 215 by dragging proxy 208 over screen space 201 using cursor 207, as shown in FIG. 2B. In an embodiment, proxy 208 may be positioned over item 215 using, e.g., a voice command, a keypad, or any other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art For another embodiment, proxy 208 is positioned at a predetermined distance from item 215. The predetermined distance may be, for example, in the approximate range of 0 to 5 millimeters (“mm”) from item 215.

[0060] FIG. 2C shows a view similar to FIG. 2B, after application window 202 of App. 2 is displayed in response to positioning proxy 208 over item 215 or at a predetermined distance from selected item 215. App. 2 is executing to display window 202. As shown in FIG. 2C, window 202 is displayed by being brought to the front of screen space 201. As shown in FIG. 2C, window 205 of executing application 205 is brought to the back of screen space 201 in response to positioning proxy 208 over item 215.

[0061] In one embodiment, window 202 of App. 2 is brought to the front of screen space 201 after determining whether a predetermined amount of time of positioning proxy 208 over item 215 has expired. If the predetermined time has expired, the application window 202 is automatically brought to the front of screen space 201. If the predetermined time has not yet expired, application window 202 is not displayed. In one embodiment, the predetermined amount of time is set by the user, and can be in the approximate range of 0-20 seconds.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 2C, screen space 201 displays a menu 233 having one or more identifiers for actions that can be performed when the application program App. 2 is executed, as described above. In one embodiment, application window 202 may contains one or more items (not shown) representing a default action that can be performed by App. 2, and controls buttons of the data processing system, as described above. In one embodiment, application window 202 is a document window, as shown in FIG. 2C.

[0063] FIG. 2D shows a view similar to FIG. 2C, after positioning proxy 208 into window 202. In one embodiment, proxy 208 is positioned into window 202 by dragging over screen space 201 using cursor 207, as shown in FIG. 2B. In an embodiment, proxy 208 may be positioned over item 215 using, e.g., a voice command, a keypad, or any other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art. Next, proxy 208 can be released to insert a content of the file, e.g., a document, a picture, or any other content, represented by selected item 209 into window 202, as described above. In another embodiment, proxy 208 is moved out of window 202 that causes closing automatically window 202, so that a content, a document, a picture, or any other object represented by proxy 208 is not inserted into window 202, as described above. In one embodiment, dragging of proxy 208 is performed continuously with a single click of the mouse button throughout the entire sequence of operations depicted in FIGS. 2A-2D.

[0064] FIG. 3A shows another embodiment of a screen space of a display device of a data processing system to control application programs. As shown in FIG. 3A, a screen space 301 displays a menu 303, and docking interface 311. Menu 303 displays identifiers for actions that can be performed when the application program App. 2 is executed, such as “Edit”, “View”, “File”, and the like. Menu identifier “File” contains menu items 323, e.g., creating a new file, open an existing file, and the like. Docking interface 311 can include one or more items representing application programs, e.g., user level applications and system level applications, folders, URLs, and the like. As shown in FIG. 3A, docking interface 311 includes items 313, 315, 316, 317, and 319. For example, item 313 represents an application program 1 (“App. 1), item 315 represents an application program 2 (“App. 2”), item 316 represents an application 3 (“App. 3”), item 317 represents an URL, and item 319 represents a folder that can be opened using application N (“App. N”). In one embodiment, items 313, 315, 316, 317, 319 are images, e.g., icons, texts, symbols, or any combination thereof. A pull-down menu is displayed after positioning proxy 308 of the item selected from another application, e.g., App. 1 over item 315 representing App. 2 in dock 311, as described above with respect to FIGS. 1A-1C, and then continuously dragging proxy 308 over the menu identifier “File”. In one embodiment, displaying menu 303 involves launching App. 2, as described above. The item that is represented by proxy 308 can be e.g., a file containing a flowchart. App. 2 is executing to display menu 303. As shown in FIG. 3A, proxy 308 is positioned over item 323 that represents an action of opening the file. In one embodiment, proxy 308 is positioned over item 323 by dragging using cursor 307. In an embodiment, proxy 308 may be positioned over item 323 using, e.g., a voice command, a keypad, or any other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing devices.

[0065] FIG. 3B shows a view similar to FIG. 3A, after a window 306 of App. 2 is displayed in response to positioning proxy 308 over item 323 to open the file.

[0066] In one embodiment, window 306 is displayed after determining whether a predetermined amount of time of positioning proxy 308 over item 323 has expired. If the predetermined time has expired, the application window 306 is automatically displayed. If the predetermined time has not yet expired, the application window 306 is not displayed. In one embodiment, the predetermined amount of time is set by the user, and can be in the approximate range of 0-20 seconds.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 3B, window 306 contains one or more items 318 that represent application programs, files, and folders. Proxy 308 is positioned over selected item 328 that represents a file. In one embodiment, proxy 308 is positioned over item 328 by dragging using cursor 307. In an embodiment, proxy 308 may be positioned over item 323 using, e.g., a voice command, a keypad, or any other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems.

[0068] FIG. 3C shows a view similar to FIG. 3B, after a window 330 of opened file is displayed in response to positioning proxy 308 over item 328. Displaying of the window in response to positioning the proxy over the item is described above. As shown in FIG. 3C, proxy 308 is positioned into window 330. Positioning of the proxy into the window is described above.

[0069] FIG. 3D shows a view similar to FIG. 3C, after proxy 308 is released into window 330, as described above. As shown in FIG. 3D, proxy 308 is released to insert a flowchart into the presentation window 330. In one embodiment, dragging of proxy 308 is performed continuously with a single click of the mouse button throughout the entire sequence of operations depicted in FIGS. 3A-3C.

[0070] FIG. 4A shows another embodiment of a screen space of a display device of a data processing system to control application programs. As shown in FIG. 4A, a screen space 401 displays a menu 403, a docking interface 411, and an application window 405, as described above. Menu 403 displays identifiers for actions that can be performed when the application program App. 1 is executed, such as “Edit”, “View”, “File”, and the like. Application program window 405 for App. 1 includes one or more items 404 that represent application programs, files, and folders, as shown in FIG. 4A. Docking interface 411 can include one or more items representing application programs, e.g., user level applications and system level applications, folders, URLs, and the like. As shown in FIG. 4A, docking interface 411 includes items 413, 415, 416, 417, and 419. For example, item 413 represents an application program 1 (“App. 1), item 415 represents an application program 2 (“App. 2”), item 416 represents an application 3 (“App. 3”), item 417 represents an URL, and item 419 represents a folder that can be opened using application N (“App. N”). In one embodiment, items 413, 415, 416, 417, 419 are images, e.g., icons, texts, symbols, or any combination thereof.

[0071] As shown in FIG. 4A, one of items 404 is selected to become a selected item 409. For example, selected item 409 may represent a file containing a picture, a document, a flowchart presentation, or any other content. In one embodiment, selection is performed by positioning cursor 407 over one of items 404. In another embodiment, a user performs selection by positioning a cursor 407 over one of items 404 and then pressing the mouse button. In an embodiment, selection of one or more items 404 may be performed using voice, a keypad, or any other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems. In one embodiment, the selected item 409 has a proxy that can be moved over screen space 401. In one embodiment, the proxy can be created by positioning a cursor over one or the items 404 and pressing the mouse. In another embodiment, the proxy can be created using any other methods known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems. Next, proxy 408 is positioned over item 419, as shown in FIG. 4A. In one embodiment, item 419 represents a folder that can be opened using another application (“App. N”).

[0072] FIG. 4B shows a view similar to FIG. 4A, after window 402 of App. N is opened to display items 423 that represent content of a folder represented by item 419. Window 402 is opened in response to positioning of proxy 408 over item 419, as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-3. As shown in FIG. 4B, proxy 408 is positioned over selected item 425 in that represents a file. Proxy 408 is positioned over selected item 425 to insert content of selected file 405 into the file 425 of folder 419. In one embodiment, the content of the selected file represented by item 409 is inserted into the folder represented by item 419. In one embodiment, file 425 can be opened to display the inserted content of the selected file 409 (not shown). In one embodiment, the content of the selected file represented by item 409 is inserted into the file 425 of folder represented by item 419 after determining whether a predetermined amount of time of positioning proxy 408 over item 425 has expired. If the predetermined time has expired, the content is automatically inserted. If the predetermined time has not yet expired, the content is not inserted. In one embodiment, the predetermined amount of time is set by the user, and can be in the approximate range of 0-20 seconds. In one embodiment, dragging of proxy 408 is performed continuously with a single click of the mouse button throughout the entire sequence of operations depicted in FIGS. 4A-4B.

[0073] FIG. 5A shows another embodiment of a screen space of a display device of a data processing system to control application programs. As shown in FIG. 5A, a screen space 501 displays a menu 503, a docking interface 511, and an application window 505, as described above. Menu 503 displays identifiers for actions that can be performed when the application program App. 1 is executed, such as “Edit”, “View”, “File”, and the like. Application program window 505 for App. 1 includes one or more items 504 that represent application programs, files, and folders, as shown in FIG. 5A. Docking interface 511 can include one or more items representing application programs, e.g., user level applications and system level applications, folders, URLs, and the like. As shown in FIG. 5A, docking interface 511 includes items 513, 515, 516, 517, and 519. For example, item 513 represents an application program 1 (“App. 1), item 515 represents an application program 2 (“App. 2”), item 516 represents an application 3 (“App. 3”), item 517 represents an URL, and item 519 represents a folder that can be opened using application N (“App. N”). In one embodiment, items 513, 515, 516, 517, 519 are images, e.g., icons, texts, symbols, or any combination thereof.

[0074] As shown in FIG. 5A, one of items 504 is selected to become a selected item 509. For example, selected item 509 may represent a file containing a picture, a document, a flowchart presentation, or any other content. In one embodiment, selection is performed by positioning cursor 507 over one of items 504. In another embodiment, a user performs selection by positioning a cursor 507 over one of items 505 and then pressing the mouse button. In an embodiment, selection of one or more items 505 may be performed using a voice, a keypad, or any other method known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems. In one embodiment, the selected item 509 has a proxy that can be moved over screen space 501, as described above. Next, proxy 508 is positioned over item 515, as shown in FIG. 5A. In one embodiment, item 515 represents an application program App. 2a.

[0075] FIG. 5B shows a view similar to FIG. 5A, after App. 2 is sprung in response to positioning of the proxy 508 over item 515, as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-3. Next, proxy 508 is positioned over a menu item 518, as shown in FIG. 5B. In one embodiment, menu item 518 represents functions that can be performed by executing App. 2, e.g., editing options, e.g., formatting, spell check, track changes options, and the like.

[0076] FIG. 5C shows a view similar to FIG. 5B, after pane (window) 510 of App. 2 is displayed in response to positioning of proxy 508 over item 518, as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-3. As shown in FIG. 5C, window 512 has tabs 514 that represent hidden interfaces. The hidden interfaces may represent various interfaces for various functions, e.g., tab 1 represents formatting interface, tab 2 represents a paragraph interface, tab 3 represents a spelling interface, and tab 4 represents a tracking feature interface For example, proxy 508 representing a file containing a document is positioned over one of tabs 514 (tab 3) that represents a command to perform a spell check.

[0077] FIG. 5D shows a view similar to FIG. 5C, after a document 502 represented by proxy 508 is displayed, so an action represented by tab 3 of items 514 is performed in response to positioning proxy 508 over tab 3 of items 514. As shown in FIG. 5D, pane 512 is displayed to perform spell check of document 502.

[0078] In one embodiment, pane 512 is displayed after determining whether a predetermined amount of time of positioning proxy 508 over item 523 has expired. If the predetermined time has expired, the application window 506 is automatically displayed. If the predetermined time has not yet expired, the application window 506 is not displayed. In one embodiment, the predetermined amount of time is set by the user, and can be in the approximate range of 0-20 seconds. In one embodiment, dragging of proxy 508 is performed continuously with a single click of the mouse button throughout the entire sequence of operations depicted in FIGS. 5A-5D.

[0079] FIG. 6 shows one embodiment of a data processing system to control application programs that includes dock synchronizing (“syncing”). As shown in FIG. 6, the data processing system 600 includes Machine 1 and Machine 2. Machine 1 has a display device with a screen space 601 and Machine 2 has a display device with a screen space 602. The machine may be any processing device, e.g., a desktop computer, laptop computers, personal digital assistants, or any other processing device. Machine 601 and machine 602 are linked together over a network, e.g., the Internet, a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), home area networks (HAN), campus area networks (CAN), or any other network known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems.

[0080] As shown in FIG. 6, screen space 601 displays a dock 603, and screen space displays a dock 604. Each of dock 603 and dock 604 has one or more items 605 representing application programs, e.g., user level applications and system level applications, folders, URLs, and the like. As shown in FIG. 6, dock 603 includes items 611, 612, and 613 and dock 604 has items 611, 612, and 614. For example, item 611 represents an URL, item 612 represents a folder, item 613 represents an application program 1 (“App. 1), and item 614 represents an application program 2 (“App. 2”). In one embodiment, items 605 are images, e.g., icons, texts, symbols, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, both App. 1 and App. 2 are supported by each of Machine 1 and Machine 2.

[0081] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of one embodiment of a method to control application programs that includes dock syncing. Method 1100 begins with operation 1101 that involves displaying a first docking interface on a first screen space of a first machine, wherein the first docking interface has a first item, wherein the first item identifies a first application. Next, operation 1102 that involves displaying a second docking interface on a second screen space of a second machine, wherein the second docking interface has a second item, wherein the second item identifies a second application is performed, as described above with respect to FIG. 6. Next, operation 1103 is performed that involves synchronizing the first docking interface and the second docking interface. Dock syncing is a process of making the docking interfaces on multiple machines the same. Synchronizing of the items of the docks ensures that the content of a user's dock, e.g., applications, folders, documents, URLs, and the like, is updated to be the same as the content of the Dock's of other machines that are coupled to the user's machine over a network.

[0082] In one embodiment, synchronizing a dock of a machine to another dock of another machine is performed periodically over a period of time. In another embodiment, synchronizing of a dock of a machine to another dock of another machine is performed per a request of a user of the machine. In one embodiment, the priority of syncing the dock of a machine to another dock of another machine is determined by a user of the machine. Next, operation 1104 is performed that involves determining whether the first machine supports the second application. If the first machine supports the second application, the second item is added to display on the first docking interface in operation 1105. If the first machine does not support the second application, the second item is not added to be displayed on the first docking interface in operation 1106. Method continues with operation 1107 that involves determining if the second machine supports the first application. If the second machine supports the first application, the first item is added to display on the second docking interface in operation 1109. If the second machine does not support the first application, the first item is not added to display on the second docking interface in operation 1108.

[0083] After synchronizing 608 has been performed, item 614 representing App. 1 is displayed on dock 603, and item 613 is displayed on dock 604, so that content of both docks 603 and 604 is updated to be the same, as shown in FIG. 6. In one embodiment, a position of item 613 within docking interface 603 after syncing is the same as a position of item 613 within docking interface 604. In another embodiment, a position of item 613 within docking interface 603 after dock syncing is adjusted depending on a position of another item 614 within docking interface 604. In one embodiment, items 611-614 are reordered after dock syncing 608. In one embodiment, after dock syncing 608, a display order of items 611-614 is modified such that items 611-614 are displayed in the same order on all machines. In another embodiment, the display order of items 611-614 is modified such that items 611-614 have different display order on the machines according to user preferences.

[0084] FIG. 12 is a flowchart of another embodiment of a method to control application programs that includes dock syncing. Method 1200 begins with operation 1201 that involves adding a first item to a first dock of a first machine, wherein the first item identifies a first application. Next, operation 1202 of synchronizing of the first machine is performed. In one embodiment, synchronizing of the first machine is performed using MAC OS X (“Trademark”) Sync Services provided by Apple Computer, Inc located in Cupertino, Calif.

[0085] In one embodiment, synchronizing from the first machine to a second machine that has a second dock is performed. Next, operation 1203 is performed that involves synchronizing the second machine having a second dock with the first machine. Next, operation 1204 that involves determining whether the second machine support the first application is performed. If the second machine supports the first application, the first item is displayed on the second dock of the second machine in operation 1205. If the second machine does not support the first application, the first item is recorded as “missing item” and is not displayed on the second dock in operation 1206. Further, if the synchronizing is performed back from the first machine to the second machine in operation 1207, the first item is not modified on the dock of the first machine in operation 1208. As such, the first machine does not know that the first item is “missing” from the second dock, so the first item is not removed from the first dock after synchronizing back the first machine to the second machine. That is, the respective docks of multiple machines having disparate applications can be still synced without a fear of dock data loss. Methods described above with respect to FIGS. 11 and 12 can be performed for synchronizing dashboard interfaces of a plurality of machines that support disparate application.

[0086] For example, a user adds a new application 613 (e.g., TextEdit) to dock 603 of Machine 1. Next the user syncs Machine 1 over a network. Next, when machine 2 performs synchronizing over the network, new application 613 is displayed on dock 604, as shown in FIG. 6.

[0087] FIG. 7 shows one embodiment of a data processing system to control application programs that includes dock syncing. As shown in FIG. 7, the data processing system 700 includes Machine 1 and Machine 2. Machine 1 has a display device with a screen space 701 and Machine 2 has a display device with a screen space 702. The machine may be any processing device, e.g., a desktop computer, laptop computers, personal digital assistants, or any other processing device. Machine 701 and machine 702 are linked together over a network, e.g., the Internet, a local area network (LAN), wide area network (WAN), home area networks (HAN), campus area networks (CAN), or any other network known to one of ordinary skill in the art of data processing systems.

[0088] As shown in FIG. 7, screen space 701 displays a dock 703, and screen space displays a dock 704. Each of dock 703 and dock 704 has one or more items 705 representing application programs, e.g., user level applications and system level applications, folders, URLs, and the like. As shown in FIG. 7, dock 703 includes items 711, 712, 713, and 715 and dock 704 has items 711, 712, and 714. For example, item 711 represents an URL, item 712 represents a folder, item 713 represents an application program 1 (“App. 1), item 714 represents an application program 2 (“App. 2”), and item 715 represents an application program 3 (“App. 3”), e.g., Adobe Photoshop®. In one embodiment, items 705 are images, e.g., icons, texts, symbols, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, App. 1, App. 2, and App. 3 are supported by Machine 1. Machine 2 supports App. 1 and App. 2, but does not support App. 3.

[0089] After syncing 708 has been performed, contents of both docks 703 and 704 are updated, as shown in FIG. 7. As shown in FIG. 7, items 711-715 that are supported by Machine 1 are displayed on dock 703, and items 711-714 that are supported by Machine 2 are displayed on dock 704. Item 715 that is not supported by Machine 2 is not displayed on dock 704.

[0090] FIG. 8 shows a block diagram of one embodiment of a data processing system 800 that performs methods described above with respect to FIGS. 1-7, and 9-12. System 800 may be a general purpose computer system, a special purpose data processing system, a PDA, a cellular telephone, or a media player. System 800 includes a processor 801 coupled to a memory 802 using a bus 803. In one embodiment, memory 802 is a magnetic disk, an optical disk, a flash memory chip, a hard disk, a dynamic random access memory (“DRAM”), a battery backed memory, or any combination thereof. In one embodiment, the memory 802 includes a portable disk, such as a CD-ROM, a DVD, or a floppy disk. Processor 801 executes the software written onto the memory 802 to perform the methods of controlling application programs on a screen space as described above. As shown in FIG. 8, processor 801 and memory 802 are coupled through bus 803 to an input/output (“I/O”) controller 806 and to a display controller 805. As shown in FIG. 8, I/O controller 806 is coupled to one or more input/output devices 808, e.g., a mouse or other cursor control device, a keyboard, a modem, a printer, and a video camera to provide communication with a user. As shown in FIG. 8, a display controller 805 is coupled to a display device 805 to display for example, a docking interface having one or more items representing application programs, folders, Universal Address Locators (“URLs”), one or more application windows, wherein the methods described above, are performed.

[0091] In one embodiment, display controller 805 includes a video adapter (e.g., video card, video board, video display board, graphics card, and graphics adapter) to produce the visual output from a data processing system. In one embodiment, display controller 805 includes a video adapter that contains a memory 809, e.g., a frame buffer, for holding texts and graphics sent to display device 805 for display. Software that includes programs, e.g., a Drag Manager (not shown) and data to perform methods of controlling application programs on a screen space as described above with respect to FIGS. 1-7, 9-12, is written onto memory 802, memory 809, or both. In one embodiment, a Drag Manager controls positioning of a proxy over one or more items as described above. Further, the video adapter of display controller 805 relays the information received from the programs and applications running on the data processing system to display device 805 that allows a user to view the information and images on a screen of the display device 805. In one embodiment, display controller 805 includes a video adapter that has a graphics coprocessor (graphics accelerator), for performing graphics calculations. The graphics accelerator may have memory 809 that may be faster than memory 802. The amount of memory determines how much resolution and how many colors can be displayed. Memory 802 and/or memory 809 may be dynamic random access memory (DRAM), or video RAM, which enables both the video circuitry and the processor to simultaneously access the memory. In one embodiment, display controller 805 having graphics accelerator (not shown) may be coupled to memory 802 through a video bus e.g., PCI or Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP).

[0092] In the foregoing specification, the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplary embodiments thereof. It will be evident that various modifications may be made thereto without departing from the broader spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. The specification and drawings are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than a restrictive sense.