Start menu operation for computer user interface

Abstract

A distinction is made between input mechanisms to determine which input mechanism was used to activate a start menu. A start menu is selected that corresponds to the input mechanism that was used to activate it. Further data corresponding to start menu interaction is received, and action is taken via based on the further interaction. For example, upon detecting activation of a start menu, how the start menu was activated from among activation types is used to present a first start menu/behavior for a first activation type, which may differ from a second start menu/behavior activated via a second activation type. For example, a determination may be made as to whether a start menu was invoked via a pointing device or via keyboard; when via keyboard, a search entry region may be provided, by which a user may directly enter search criteria via the keyboard.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer device comprising:
 at least one processor; and   at least one storage device having stored computer-executable instructions which, when executed by the at least one processor, implement a method for presenting a unique menu to a user based on an input device used to request the unique menu at the computer device, the method comprising:
 the computing device receiving a user input; 
 the computing device determining that the user input is a request that a menu be displayed on a display communicatively coupled to the computing device; 
 the computing device selecting a unique menu from among a plurality of different, available menus, wherein selecting the unique menu comprises:
 determining the input device used in receiving the user input, by at least distinguishing the input device from one or more other input devices; and 
 determining that the input device corresponds to a first a set of menu interface objects, and that the one or more other input devices correspond to at least one different set of menu interface objects that does not correspond directly to the of input device used in receiving the user input; and 
 
 the computing device displaying the first set of menu interface objects on the display device, such that the appearance of the menu is dependent upon the input device used in receiving the user input requesting the menu. 
   
     
     
         2 . The computer device of  claim 1 , wherein the menu is start menu and such that a different start menu with different interface objects will be presented to the user, depending on which of a plurality of different input devices is used to invoke the start menu. 
     
     
         3 . The computer device of  claim 2 , wherein determining user input device used comprises determining that the user used a mouse to provide the user input. 
     
     
         4 . The computer device of  claim 3 , wherein the first set of menu interface objects includes a search option that is unique to mouse activation. 
     
     
         5 . The computer device of  claim 2 , wherein determining the user input device used comprises determining that the user used a keyboard to provide the user input. 
     
     
         6 . The computer device of  claim 5 , wherein the first set of menu interface objects comprises an edit field. 
     
     
         7 . The computer device of  claim 2 , wherein determining the user input device used comprises determining that the user used a remote control device to provide the user input. 
     
     
         8 . The computer device of  claim 7 , wherein the first set of menu interface objects includes a media menu object. 
     
     
         9 . The computer device of  claim 8 , wherein the media menu object includes a list of a plurality of different media titles. 
     
     
         10 . The computer device of  claim 2 , wherein determining the user input device used comprises determining that the user used a pen to provide the user input. 
     
     
         11 . The computer device of  claim 10 , wherein the first set of menu interface objects includes a soft keyboard. 
     
     
         12 . The computer device of  claim 11 , wherein the first set of menu interface objects further includes an edit field. 
     
     
         13 . The computer device of  claim 10 , wherein the first set of menu interface objects includes a handwriting recognition input dialog. 
     
     
         14 . One or more computer-readable storage device having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause a computing device to perform a method that includes the following:
 the computing device receiving a user input;   the computing device determining that the user input is a request that a menu be displayed on a display communicatively coupled to the computing device;   the computing device selecting a unique menu from among a plurality of different, available menus, wherein selecting the unique menu comprises:
 determining a type of input device used in receiving the user input, by at least distinguishing the input device from one or more other input devices; and 
 determining that the input device corresponds to a first a set of menu interface objects, and that the one or more other input devices correspond to at least one different set of menu interface objects that does not correspond directly to the of input device used in receiving the user input; and 
   the computing device displaying the first set of menu interface objects on the display device, such that the appearance of the menu is dependent upon the input device used in receiving the user input requesting the menu.   
     
     
         15 . The one or more computer-readable storage device of  claim 14 , wherein the menu is start menu and such that a different start menu with different interface objects will be presented to the user, depending on which of a plurality of different input devices is used to invoke the start menu. 
     
     
         16 . The one or more computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein determining the user input device used comprises determining that the user used a mouse to provide the user input and wherein the first set of menu interface objects includes a search option that is unique to mouse activation. 
     
     
         17 . The one or more computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein determining the user input device used comprises determining that the user used a keyboard to provide the user input and wherein the first set of menu interface objects comprises an edit field. 
     
     
         18 . The one or more computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein determining the user input device used comprises determining that the user used a pen to provide the user input and wherein the first set of menu interface objects includes a soft keyboard and an edit field. 
     
     
         19 . The one or more computer-readable storage device of  claim 15 , wherein determining the user input device used comprises determining that the user used a pen to provide the user input and that the first set of menu interface objects includes a handwriting recognition input dialog. 
     
     
         20 . A computer-implemented method for presenting a unique menu to a user based on an input device used to request the unique menu, the method comprising:
 the computing device receiving a user input;   the computing device determining that the user input is a request that a menu be displayed on a display communicatively coupled to the computing device;   the computing device selecting a unique menu from among a plurality of different, available menus, wherein selecting the unique menu comprises:
 determining a type of input device used in receiving the user input, by at least distinguishing the input device from one or more other input devices; and 
 determining that the input device corresponds to a first a set of menu interface objects, and that the one or more other input devices correspond to at least one different set of menu interface objects that does not correspond directly to the of input device used in receiving the user input; and 
   the computing device displaying the first set of menu interface objects on the display device, such that the appearance of the menu is dependent upon the input device used in receiving the user input requesting the menu.