Varying heights of application images to convey application status

• US 20030142143A1
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Published: 07/31/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Lawrence, Kelvin Roderick, Hately, Andrew Douglas
• Application Number:
  US10/058,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142143A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/836
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/328 Computer systems status display G06F11/327 takes precedence
• 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

Abstract

A method, system and program for varying the heights of application images to convey application status are provided. At least one type of activity is detected for an application image associated with an application opened in a graphical interface. A three-dimensional height of the application image in said graphical interface is graphically adjusted to represent at least one type of activity, such that at least one type of activity is graphically distinguished for an application from the application image.

Claims

1. A method for displaying application activity, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting at least one type of activity for an application image associated with an application open in a graphical interface; and

graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height of said application image in said graphical interface to represent said at least one type of activity, such that said at least one type of activity is graphically distinguished for an application.

2. The method for displaying application activity according to claim 1, said step of detecting at least one type of activity further comprising the step of:

detecting said at least one type of activity comprising at least one of a z-order of a plurality of open applications and usage of at least one resource by said plurality of open applications.

3. The method for displaying application activity according to claim 1, said step of graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height further comprising the step of:

graphically adjusting said height of said application image by at least one level.

4. The method for displaying application activity according to claim 1, said step of graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height further comprising the step of:

graphically applying at least one range of shading to illustrate said adjusted height of said application image.

5. The method for displaying application activity according to claim 1, said step of graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height further comprising the step of:

graphically specifying a quantity associated with said at least one type of activity.

6. The method for displaying application activity according to claim 5, said step of graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height further comprising the step of:

graphically specifying said quantity associated with said at least one type of activity in a graphical representation displayed adjacent to said application image.

7. The method for displaying application activity according to claim 1, said step of graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height further comprising the step of:

graphically repositioning an ordered location of said application image to represent said at least one type of activity.

8. The method for displaying application activity according to claim 1, said method further comprising the step of:

graphically displaying a plurality of application images in an order that represents at least one type of activity measured for each of said plurality of application images.

9. A system for displaying application activity, said system comprising:

a graphical user interface;

means for detecting at least one type of activity for an application image associated with an application open in said graphical user interface; and

means for graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height of said application image in said graphical user interface to represent said at least one type of activity.

10. The system for displaying application activity according to claim 9, said means for detecting at least one type of activity further comprising:

means for detecting said at least one type of activity comprising at least one of a z-order of a plurality of open applications and usage of at least one resource by said plurality of open applications.

11. The system for displaying application activity according to claim 9, said means for graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height further comprising:

means for graphically adjusting said height of said application image by at least one level.

12. The system for displaying application activity according to claim 9, said means for graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height further comprising:

means for graphically applying at least one range of shading to illustrate said adjusted height of said application image.

13. The system for displaying application activity according to claim 9, said means for graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height further comprising:

means for graphically specifying a quantity associated with said at least one type of activity.

14. The system for displaying application activity according to claim 13, said means for graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height further comprising:

means for graphically specifying said quantity associated with said at least one type of activity in a graphical representation displayed adjacent to said application image.

15. The system for displaying application activity according to claim 9, said step of graphically adjusting a three-dimensional height further comprising:

means for graphically repositioning an ordered location of said application image to represent said at least one type of activity.

16. The system for displaying application activity according to claim 9, said system further comprising:

means for graphically displaying a plurality of application images in an order that represents at least one type of activity measured for each of said plurality of application images.

17. A program for displaying application activity, residing on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for detecting at least one type of activity for an application image associated with an application open in a graphical interface; and

means for enabling a graphical adjustment of a three-dimensional height of said application image in said graphical interface to represent said at least one type of activity, such that said at least one type of activity is graphically distinguished for an application.

18. The program for displaying application activity according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for detecting said at least one type of activity comprising at least one of a z-order of a plurality of open applications and usage of at least one resource by said plurality of open applications.

19. The program for displaying application activity according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for enabling a graphical adjustment of adjusting said height of said application image by at least one level.

20. The program for displaying application activity according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for enabling a graphical application of at least one range of shading to illustrate said adjusted height of said application image.

21. The program for displaying application activity according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for controlling a graphical specification of a quantity associated with said at least one type of activity.

22. The program for displaying application activity according to claim 21, said program further comprising:

means for controlling a graphical specification of said quantity associated with said at least one type of activity in a graphical representation displayed adjacent to said application image.

23. The program for displaying application activity according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for enabling a graphical repositioning of an ordered location of said application image to represent said at least one type of activity.

24. The program for displaying application activity according to claim 17, said program further comprising:

means for enabling a graphical display of a plurality of application images in an order that represents at least one type of activity measured for each of said plurality of application images.