Users who use any operating system that has a notion of "desktop" are facing the problem of information overload with regards to links and other resources that a placed on the desktop. This problem is especially acute for users who use the same computer for work, personal needs, travel, etc; due to sheer number of programs installed on the computer.
Currently, different solutions exists that help users to categorize information available through the desktop and OS shell into manageable categories (these include multiple desktop views, virtual folders for desktop artifacts, etc), however these solutions rely on static user-predefined categorizations. Currently there is no way to enable dynamic, context sensitive management of desktop ...
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Dynamic, context sensitive desktop management
In general, our invention can be represented as following diagram, individual parts of which are described bellow:
Resource2
Pool of desktop resources
Resource1
Resource3
Pool of desktop resources
This is a set of desktop resources (for example Windows desktop shortcuts, quick link shortcuts, etc) which are available for manipulation by the context management system. Context Definition
The context model includes name, tags, conditions, actions, and reference to set of desktop resources that can be included in this context.
Name: name for the given context
Tags: Each desktop resource can be tagged. Context tags identify desktop resources which should be included in this context. Each context can have multiple tags and resource can be grouped in the context based on the tags.
Conditions: The condition is normally defined by such context parameters as time of day, geographic location, presence of internet connectivity, etc.
Actions: Action defines what should be done if certain condition holds true or false. Set of desktop resources: a set of desktop resources from the pool of desktop resources that were manually set by the user or if tags are specified, Context Management System finds all desktop resources that have the same tags and add them to the context
For example user can define the following profiles:
Context 1
Name: At Work
Condition 1: if time is between 8AM and 5PM
Tags: work, development
Action : Hide shortcuts "Game 1 and Game 2" from the desktop
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Resource1
Context management system
Resource4
Context 1
Context 2
Context 3
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Action : Move "most important work program" shortcut to the center of the desktop
Condition 1.2: if there is no Internet connectivity
Action : Hide shortcut and quick link to FireFox browser
Context 2
Name: At customer site
Condition 1: if location is not an office or home (for example for people who go to customer sites often)
Action: Enable more security features
Action: Put VPN access shortcut to the desktop
Context 3
Name: At Home
Condition 1: if time between 8AM and 5PM
Action: Display shortcuts to "Game 1" and "Game 2" on the desktop
Action: Hide "most impo...
