Patent ID: 8327286

Claim:
One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for performing a method of intelligently presenting (1) buttons that correspond to one or more running windows and (2) a set of application launchers that launch instances of software applications, the method comprising: presenting the set of application launchers in a user interface area that is separate from any windowed processes; receiving an indication that an instance of a software application has been invoked by a launching mechanism, and creating a windowed process in which the instance of the software application is presented; determining that at least one of the application launchers displayed in the user interface area that is separate from any windowed processes at the time of invocation was the launching mechanism; automatically removing the at least one of the launchers from the user interface area that is separate from any windowed processes irrespective of a state of said windowed process, wherein the at least one of the launchers is no longer displayed when removed, and wherein said state includes at least one of maximized, minimized, and in between; based on the removing of the at least one of the launchers from the user interface area that is separate from any windowed processes, presenting a button that corresponds to the windowed process, the button being operable to present the windowed process; and incident to receiving an indication the windowed process has closed, returning the at least one of the launchers to the user interface area and removing said button that corresponds to the windowed process.