System and method for displaying status of background worker threads

Abstract

A system for displaying the status of a plurality of threaded tasks operating in the background includes a status bar; a progress control bar in the status bar for a primary task operating in the background and including a progress bar and first and second action buttons; the progress bar visually representing progress of a primary background operation; the first action button being selectable by a user for initiating an action with respect to the primary background operation and the second action button being selectable by a user for alternately displaying and canceling a drop list of secondary progress control bars for secondary tasks also operating in the background.

1 - 23 . (canceled)  
   
   
       24 . A method for displaying the status of tasks, comprising the steps of: 
 displaying in a progress control bar a progress bar and a first action button;    said progress bar visually representing progress of a primary background operation;    displaying said progress control bar in a status bar;    overwriting said progress bar with a caption describing said primary background operation; and    said action button selectable by a user for initiating an action with respect to said primary background operation.    
   
   
       25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising the step responsive to user selection of said action button of halting said primary background operation.  
   
   
       26 . The method of  claim 25 , further comprising the step responsive to user selection of said progress bar of selectively presenting to said user an associated or relevant window.  
   
   
       27 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the steps of: 
 executing at least one secondary background operation;    displaying a second action button in said progress control bar, each said second progress control bar including for a corresponding secondary background operation an action button and a caption overwriting a progress bar;    responsive to user selection of said second action button, displaying a drop list of second progress control bars, with one second progress control bar for each said secondary background operation;    responsive to a subsequent user selection of said second action button, collapsing said drop list.    
   
   
       28 . The method of  claim 26 , further comprising the steps of: 
 responsive to said primary operation completing or being canceled, replacing said progress control bar in said status bar for said primary operation with a progress control bar for a secondary operation.    
   
   
       29 . System for displaying the status of tasks operating in the background, comprising: 
 a status bar;    a progress control bar in said status bar including a progress bar and a first action button;    said progress bar visually representing progress of a primary background operation and overwritten with a caption describing said primary background operation; and    said action button selectable by a user for initiating an action with respect to said primary background operation.    
   
   
       30 . A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform method steps for displaying the status of tasks, said method steps comprising: 
 displaying in a progress control bar a progress bar and a first action button;    said progress bar visually representing progress of a primary background operation;    displaying said progress control bar in a status bar;    overwriting said progress bar with a caption describing said primary background operation;    said action button selectable by a user for initiating an action with respect to said primary background operation; and    responsive to user selection of said progress bar of selectively presenting to said user an associated or relevant window.    
   
   
       31 . The program storage device of  claim 30 , said method steps further comprising the steps: 
 responsive to user selection of said action button of halting said primary background operation; and    responsive to user selection of said progress bar of selectively presenting to said user an associated or relevant window.    
   
   
       32 . The program storage device of  claim 30 , said method steps further comprising the steps: 
 executing at least one secondary background operation;    displaying a second action button in said progress control bar;    responsive to user selection of said second action button, displaying a drop list of second progress control bars, with one second progress control bar for each said secondary background operation;    responsive to a subsequent user selection of said second action button of collapsing said drop list.    
   
   
       33 . The program storage device of  claim 32 , each said second progress control bar including for a corresponding secondary background operation an action button and a caption overwriting a progress bar.  
   
   
       34 . The program storage device of  claim 33 , said method steps further comprising the steps of: 
 responsive to said primary operation completing or being canceled, replacing said progress control bar in said status bar for said primary operation with a progress control bar for a secondary operation.    
   
   
       35 . A computer program product or computer program element 
 for displaying the status of tasks according to method steps comprising:    displaying in a progress control bar a progress bar and a first action button;    said progress bar visually representing progress of a primary background operation;    displaying said progress control bar in a status bar;    overwriting said progress bar with a caption describing said primary background operation;    responsive to user selection of said progress bar, selectively presenting to said user an associated or relevant window; and    said action button selectable by a user for initiating an action with respect to said primary background operation.