US Patent 11269492 Context-based user interface menu with selectable actions

Techniques for better information sharing and control switching in a graphical user interface (GUI) are described. In an example, a computer system determines a user context indicating a likely user interest in applications. Upon a user request for a menu, windows are added to a dynamic area of the menu based on the user context and correspond to the applications. The menu is presented in the GUI and each window be shown in a glanced state to provide quick information about the corresponding application. When the user focus shifts to a window, that window is presented in a focused state to also provide a selectable action that can be performed. Upon a user selection of the window, the window is presented in a selected state to further provide additional performable actions. The window can be pinned to the GUI and user control can automatically switch to another application.