Patent ID: 7389475

Claim:
A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing steps to create a framework supporting a plurality of applications comprising: displaying an application panel corresponding to a first application operating on a computer system through a connection to an individualized component object model, said first application having an input focus of said computer system; displaying an application panel corresponding to a second application, different from said first application, operating on said computer system through a connection to an individualized component object model being different from the component object model for the first application; displaying an input panel on said display while said application panel corresponding to a first application is displayed, said input panel corresponding to an input application of said computer system; receiving a first user input in said input panel, said first user input corresponding to entry of data, a command, or selection by a user to said computer system; determining whether said first user input is to be consumed by said input panel corresponding to said first application; and forwarding data corresponding to said user input to said first application if said user input is not consumed by said input panel, including: retaining said input focus by said first application after first user input is received if said first user input is not to be consumed by said panel, said application panel displays a transient user interface element before said first user input is received, and said transient user element remains displayed for at least one second after said first user input is received; and passing said input focus from said first application to said second application that is different from said first application, when said first application references said second application through said framework supporting a plurality of applications.