Dynamically configurable virtual window manager
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising:
- a display buffer that is configured to facilitate a rendering of a display area to a display device, and a window manager, operably coupled to the display buffer, having an active area that is larger than the display area, and is configured to facilitate a visual representation of objects in the display area, via a mapping of the display area to locations of the objects in the active area, wherein the active area is dynamically reconfigurable via a user input.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A virtual window manager having a substantially unconstrained active area is provided for managing windows and icon objects. The user is provided options for “carving out” regions of this unconstrained area for placing objects. The carved out regions, or “tunnels”, provide the user with a path for subsequently navigating back to each placed object. These tunnels are of arbitrary shape and size, at the user'"'"'s discretion, as are the shapes of the placed objects. Using the analogy of tunnels, access control can be embodied in the size or shape of each tunnel, wherein individual users possess different spelunking capabilities. Using different colors or textures to distinguish the carved out regions from the undisturbed active areas, the display of select areas can provide for visually interesting effects, and allows for the creative presentation of windows and icons on a user'"'"'s computer system. Because the user is provided the option of carving out regions as required for placing objects in a limitless active area, the conventional technique of stacking objects within a limited area can be avoided.
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Citations
25 Claims
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1. A computer system comprising:
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a display buffer that is configured to facilitate a rendering of a display area to a display device, and a window manager, operably coupled to the display buffer, having an active area that is larger than the display area, and is configured to facilitate a visual representation of objects in the display area, via a mapping of the display area to locations of the objects in the active area, wherein the active area is dynamically reconfigurable via a user input. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A user interface to a windows management system, comprising
a visual representation of a display area that is a subset of an active area of the windows management system, wherein the subset of the active area is represented as a plurality of connected passageways that facilitate navigation and access to objects within the active area.
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17. A method for dynamically configuring an active area of a windows management system, comprising:
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presenting a visual representation of a subset of the active area, wherein the subset of the active area is visually represented as a plurality of passageways that facilitate navigation and access to objects of the windows management system, and providing one or more tools to facilitate receipt of user input for modifying the plurality of passageways, and modifying the visual representation of the subset of the active area corresponding to the user input. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A windows management system, comprising:
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a user interface, and a window manager, operably coupled to the user interface, that is configured;
to receive user input from the user interface for controlling placement of objects within an active area, and placement of access passageways to the objects, and to maintain an active area map corresponding to the placement of the objects, and the placement of the access passageways, wherein the active area map is configured to be unbounded, thereby allowing for a dynamic configuration of the active area map, based on the placement of the objects and the access passageways. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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Specification