Screen shuffle

• US 10,664,121 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2011
• Issued: 05/26/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Original Assignee: Z124 LLC (Flexis)
• Inventors: Sirpal, Sanjiv, Reeves, Paul Edward, de Paz, Alexander, Schrock, Rodney Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Ell, Matthew
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Linda
• Application Number:
  US13/223,848
• Publication Number:
  US 20120084719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,190 Days
• Field of Search: 715200-867, 345 11-689, 709200-253, 707600-899
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1641 the display being formed by a plurality of foldable display components G06F1/1647 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1423 controlling a plurality of local displays, e.g. CRT and flat panel display

Abstract

Systems and methods are provides for changing a window stack for a multi-screen device. The window stack can change based on the movement of a window. The system can receive a gesture indicating a change in the position of a window in the device. Upon receiving the gesture, the system determines a new position in the window stack for the moved window. Then, the system can determine a display associated with the moved window and change the logic data structure associated with the moved window to describe the new position of the moved window in the window stack.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium, having stored thereon, computer-executable instructions executable by a processor, the computer-executable instructions causing the processor to execute a method for creating a window stack for a multi-display device, the computer-executable instructions comprising:

instructions to create a first window stack logically associated with a first portion of a composite display of the multi-display device, wherein the first window stack is a first logical arrangement that describes a display order of all windows and desktops associated with the first portion of the composite display from a top to a bottom of the first window stack, wherein inactive windows and desktops are not displayed, and wherein the display order of windows and desktops in the first window stack can change based on user input;

instructions to create a second window stack logically associated with a second portion of the composite display of the multi-display device, wherein the second window stack is a second logical arrangement that describes a display order of all windows and desktops associated with the second portion of the composite display from a top to a bottom of the second window stack, wherein inactive windows and desktop are not displayed, wherein the display order of windows and desktops in the second window stack can change based on user input, and wherein all windows and desktops can move from the first window stack to the second window stack and from the second window stack to the first window stack;

instructions to open a first application;

instructions to display a first window of the first open application on at least a portion of each of the first and second portions of the composite display, wherein the first window is active;

instructions to describe a position of the first window in at least one of the first window stack and the second window stack;

instructions to open a second application;

instructions to display a second window of the second open application on the second portion of the composite display, wherein the second window is active;

instructions to describe a position of the second window in the second window stack;

instructions to modify the position of the first window in the first window stack to fit the first window on the first portion of the composite display;

instructions to receive a first input to move the first window to the second portion of the composite display;

instructions to modify the second window stack to fit the first window on the second portion of the composite display; and

instructions to modify the position of the second window in the second window stack.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

in response to moving the first window to the second portion of the composite display, instructions to change a logical data structure associated with a first desktop, wherein the first desktop was covered by the first window and, in response to moving the first window to the second portion of the composite display, the first desktop has an active position in the first window stack and is displayed on the first portion of the composite display; and

instructions to receive a second input to reorder the second window stack, wherein a second desktop associated with the second window stack moves to an active position in the second window stack and is displayed on the second portion of the composite display and the first window moves to an inactive position in the second window stack, wherein the second input is received by a second touch sensor associated with the second portion of the composite display, and wherein the first input is received by a first touch sensor associated with the first portion of the composite display.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 1, further comprising:

instructions to receive a third input to reorder the second window stack, wherein the third input is received by a second touch sensor associated with the second portion of the composite display, and wherein the first input is received by a first touch sensor associated with the first portion of the composite display;

instructions to change a stack position identifier of the second window to indicate that the second window is the highest window in the second window stack and is displayed on the second portion of the composite display, wherein the second window is active; and

instructions to change the stack position identifier of the first window to indicate that the first window is behind the second window and is not displayed on the second portion of the composite display, wherein the first window is inactive.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 3, wherein a logical data structure of the first window stack and the second window stack comprises two or more of:

a window identifier adapted to identify each window and desktop in relation to other windows and desktops in one of the first and second window stacks, wherein the window identifier is one of a globally unique identifier, a numeric identifier, and an alphanumeric identifier;

dimensions that delineate a portion of one or more of the first portion and the second portion of the composite display that each window and desktop can occupy, wherein the dimensions of each window can change, and wherein the dimension comprise one or more of;

coordinates for two or more corners of each window or desktop, and

one coordinate and a height and a width of each window or desktop; and

the stack position identifier adapted to identify each window and desktop by a unique stack position, wherein the stack position identifier of a window or desktop can change based on user input, and wherein the stack position identifier is one of a globally unique identifier, a numeric identifier, and an alphanumeric identifier.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 4, wherein active windows and desktops are displayed entirely within at least one of the first and second portions of the composite display.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium as defined in claim 1, wherein the first window stack is a first portion of a serial stack and the second window stack is a second portion of the serial window stack.

7. A method for changing a window stack in a multi-display device, the method comprising:

displaying a first window of a first open application on a first touch sensitive display of the multi-display device, wherein the first touch sensitive display is associated with a first window stack, wherein a second touch sensitive display of the multi-display device is associated with a second window stack, wherein the first and second window stacks are logical arrangements that describe a display order of windows and desktops associated with each of the first and second touch sensitive displays from a top to a bottom of the first and second window stacks, wherein the display order of the windows and desktops in the first and second window stacks can change based on user input, and wherein windows and desktops can move from the first window stack to the second window stack and from the second window stack to the first window stack;

receiving an input in the first touch sensitive display of the multi-display device to move the first window to the second touch sensitive display;

changing a first logic data structure associated with the first window to describe a new position of the first window in the second window stack; and

changing a second logic data structure associated with a second window to describe a position of the second window in one of the first and second window stacks,

wherein the first and second window stacks are logical arrangements of at least one active and at least two inactive windows and a desktop for the multi-display device,

wherein an inactive window or desktop comprises a window or desktop that is not displayed,

wherein each window and desktop is arranged by a unique stack position identifier within one of the first and second window stacks,

wherein the stack position identifier of each window and desktop represents a location within the first or second window stack of the window or desktop, and

wherein the stack position identifier of each window and desktop can change when a window is moved.

8. The method defined in claim 7, wherein the first logic data structure comprises three or more of:

a window identifier that identifies each window and desktop in relation to other windows or desktops in one of the first and second window stacks, wherein the window identifier is one of a globally unique identifier, a numeric identifier, and an alphanumeric identifier;

dimensions that delineate a portion of one or more of the first touch sensitive display and the second touch sensitive display that each window and desktop can occupy, wherein the dimensions of each window can change, and wherein the dimension comprise one or more of;

coordinates for two or more corners of each window, and

one coordinate and a height and a width of each window;

the stack position identifier, wherein the stack position identifier is adapted to identify each window and desktop by a unique stack position, and wherein the stack position identifier is one of a globally unique identifier, a numeric identifier, and an alphanumeric identifier; and

a display identifier adapted to identify at least one of the first touch sensitive display and the second touch sensitive display of the multi-display device with which each window or desktop is associated.

9. The method defined in claim 7, wherein the second window is associated with the second touch sensitive display of the multi-display device and the first window covers the second window, wherein the second window moves to an inactive position in the second window stack.

10. The method defined in claim 7, wherein the order of windows and desktops in the first and second window stacks is not displayed in the first and second touch sensitive displays, and wherein the first window stack is a first portion of a serial stack and the second window stack is a second portion of the serial window stack.

11. A multi-display device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled with and readable by the processor and storing therein a set of instructions which, when executed by the processor, causes the processor to change a window stack in the device by;

displaying a first window of a first open application on a first touch sensitive display of the multi-display device, wherein the first touch sensitive display is associated with a first window stack, wherein a second touch sensitive display of the multi-display device is associated with a second window stack, wherein the first and second window stacks are logical arrangements that describe a display order of windows and desktops associated with each of the first and second touch sensitive displays from a top to a bottom of the first and second window stacks, wherein the display order of the windows and desktops in the first and second window stacks can change based on user input, and wherein windows and desktops can move from the first window stack to the second window stack and from the second window stack to the first window stack;

receiving an input in the first touch sensitive display of the multi-display device to move the first window to the second touch sensitive display;

changing first a logic data structure associated with the first window to describe a new position of the first window in the second window stack; and

changing a second logic data structure associated with a second window to describe a position of the second window in one of the first and second window stacks,

wherein the first and second window stacks are logical arrangements of at least one active and at least two inactive windows and a desktop for the multi-display device,

wherein an inactive window or desktop comprises a window or desktop that is not displayed,

wherein each window and desktop is arranged by a unique stack position identifier within one of the first and second window stacks,

wherein the stack position identifier of each window and desktop represents a location within the first or second window stack of the window or desktop, and

wherein the stack position identifier of each window and desktop can change when a window is moved.

12. The multi-display device defined in claim 11, wherein the first logic data structure comprises three or more of:

a window identifier that identifies each window and desktop in relation to other windows or desktops in one of the first and second window stacks, wherein the window identifier is one of a globally unique identifier, a numeric identifier, and an alphanumeric identifier;

dimensions that delineate a portion of one or more of the first touch sensitive display and the second touch sensitive display that each window and desktop can occupy, wherein the dimensions of each window can change, and wherein the dimension comprise one or more of;

coordinates for two or more corners of each window, and

one coordinate and a height and a width of each window;

the stack position identifier, wherein the stack position identifier is adapted to identify each window and desktop by a unique stack position, and wherein the stack position identifier is one of a globally unique identifier, a numeric identifier, and an alphanumeric identifier; and

a display identifier adapted to identify at least one of the first touch sensitive display and the second touch sensitive display of the multi-display device with which each window or desktop is associated.

13. The multi-display device defined in claim 11, wherein the second window is associated with the second touch sensitive display of the multi-display device and the first window covers the second window, wherein the second window moves to an inactive position in the second window stack.

14. The multi-display device defined in claim 11, wherein the order of windows and desktops in the first and second window stacks is not displayed in the first and second touch sensitive displays, and wherein the first window stack is a first portion of a serial stack and the second window stack is a second portion of the serial window stack.