US Patent 10101880 Tools on-demand

A framework for improving user interfaces, and menu systems in particular, is described herein. In one embodiment, a search bar is introduced to the user interface in addition to, or to the exclusion of, menu system components. By reducing or eliminating the need for a persistent menu system UI, screen real-estate is made available for other content displayed by the application. In one embodiment, a user desiring to access functionality exposed by the application enters search text into the search bar. A list of search results is displayed, the list including actions—pieces of functionality exposed by the application—and/or traditional menu system components including menus, context menus, toolbars, pop-ups, widgets, buttons, and the like.