User interface and method for maximizing the information presented on a screen
First Claim
1. A graphical user interface, comprising:
- a first display layer for presenting a primary dynamic image;
a display position indicator responsive to a user input device; and
a second display layer for presenting a secondary dynamic image related to the primary dynamic image and positionable relative thereto, the second display layer having visible or invisible modes and assuming a visible mode in dependence upon a predetermined user selection and the primary and secondary dynamic images being updated regardless of position or mode of the second display layer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system provides a user interface for maximizing an amount of information presented on a computer generated display. The system includes a user interface management system (UIMS) that works with an operating system that manages the computer resources including a display screen and a user input device for tracking position. The UIMS is responsive to the user input device to effect changes in the computer generated display. The UIMS communicates with an application program using the user interface. The user interface has at least a first layer for displaying a primary dynamic image and a second layer for displaying a secondary dynamic image. The second layer has a plurality of display modes including a first mode corresponding to at least a portion of the second layer assuming an invisible state in the computer generated display. Selection of the display modes is effected by signals received from the user input device. Both the first and second layers are updated regardless of the mode of the second layer. The user interface is particularly applicable to air traffic control where the first layer is used for displaying a map plotting aircraft locations and the second layer is used for displaying various data concerning the aircraft, both being updated continuously.
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Citations
32 Claims
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1. A graphical user interface, comprising:
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a first display layer for presenting a primary dynamic image;
a display position indicator responsive to a user input device; and
a second display layer for presenting a secondary dynamic image related to the primary dynamic image and positionable relative thereto, the second display layer having visible or invisible modes and assuming a visible mode in dependence upon a predetermined user selection and the primary and secondary dynamic images being updated regardless of position or mode of the second display layer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A system for providing a user interface for maximizing an amount of information presented on a computer generated display, said system comprising:
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a user interface management system for receiving messages, from an operating system that manages the computer resources including a display screen and a user input device for tracking position, and in particular, messages in response to the user input device and for sending messages to the operating system effecting changes in the computer generated display and for receiving messages from and sending messages to an application program using the user interface;
the user interface having at least a first layer for displaying a primary dynamic image and a second layer for displaying a secondary dynamic image, the second layer having a plurality of display modes including a first mode corresponding to at least a portion of the second layer assuming an invisible state in the computer generated display, selection of the display modes being in dependence upon signals received from the user input device. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A graphical user interface for air traffic control comprising:
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a first display layer for presenting an aircraft tracking display;
a second display layer for presenting auxiliary data related to the first display layer;
a display position indicator responsive to the user interface device; and
the second display layer having a plurality of display modes including a mode in which a portion of the second display layer is in an invisible state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A graphical display system for an application program, comprising:
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a user interface manager for storing application oriented objects associated with said application program, hierarchical display lists of said objects, and raster images of said objects, said objects including representations each defined by an overall display layer and position, individually layered and positioned object components, and symbolic references to graphical constructs for each said component, a plurality of logical states defined by keys linked to representation changes and a plurality of behaviors defined by actions linked to symbolic object events;
a renderer module responsive to a presentation manager for maintaining said raster images according to the contents of said display lists and copying one or more of said raster images to hardware video memory for display on a display device; and
a presentation manager responsive to a motion event or user input for invoking said user interface module and said renderer. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A method of managing a graphical user interface associated with an application program operable on a computing device having a visual display device, a user input device for controlling a pointer on said display device, said application having a plurality of windows including a primary background window and one or more secondary windows overlying said background window, each said secondary window being configurable in normal, locked, timed and timed icon modes and in invisible, opaque, and iconified states, comprising the steps of:
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a) storing predetermined data with respect to each said window;
b) storing hierarchical display lists of said windows;
c) storing raster images of said windows;
d) storing the identity of an window underlying said pointer as a current window;
e) responding to movement of said pointer over said windows by;
i. comparing the identity of the window immediately underlying said pointer against the identity of a previous window;
ii. determining the mode of the previous window and a. placing said previous window in an invisible state when said previous window is in a normal mode; and
b. initiating an invisible time out when said previous window is in a timed or timed icon mode;
iii. removing an invisible state from said current window;
iv. storing the identity of said current window as said previous window; and
v. removing any pending time outs respecting said current window. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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Specification