Dynamic text visibility program

• US 20030189594A1
• Filed: 04/04/2002
• Published: 10/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Jones, Steven Paul
• Application Number:
  US10/116,229
• Publication Number:
  US 20030189594A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• 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: G09G 2340/12 Overlay of images, i.e. displayed pixel being the result of switching between the corresponding input pixels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are generally directed to a method of displaying a user activity site contained within an active window on a display screen. In one aspect, a detection is made as to whether the user activity site is obstructed by an obstruction. If so, the user activity site is displayed in a text display area disposed in front of the obstruction. The obstruction comprises one or more inactive windows.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a user activity site contained within an active window in a display screen, comprising:

detecting whether the user activity site is obstructed by an obstruction; and

if so, displaying the user activity site in a text display area disposed in front of the obstruction.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the obstruction comprises one or more inactive windows.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying the user activity comprises bringing a portion of the active window containing the user activity site to a foreground.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the text display area is an opening in the obstruction through which the site contained in the active window is made visible.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the text display area comprises a margin around the user activity site.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user activity site comprises a cursor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the user activity site comprises a cursor and text.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting whether the user activity site is obstructed by the obstruction comprises determining whether the user activity site is positioned behind one or more inactive windows.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting whether the user activity site will move into a region outside of the display screen; and

if so, wrapping the user activity site to one or more subsequent lines in the text display area.

10. A method of displaying a user activity site contained within a visible portion of an active window on a viewable screen area of an output device, comprising:

determining a likelihood that the user activity site will move into an unviewable portion of the active window; and

if the likelihood exists, wrapping the user activity site to one or more subsequent lines on the visible portion of the active window.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the unviewable portion of the active window is positioned in a region selected from one of a region outside the viewable screen area and a region behind an inactive window.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the user activity site comprises a cursor and the step of determining the likelihood comprises at least one of:

determining whether a distance between the cursor and an edge of an inactive window is a threshold number of characters; and

determining whether a distance between the cursor and a boundary of the viewable screen area is the threshold number of characters.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the likelihood comprises determining whether the user activity site will become hidden from a view of a user of the output device.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the likelihood comprises:

determining whether the user activity site will move into a region behind an inactive window.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the likelihood comprises:

determining whether the user activity site will move to a region outside of the viewable screen area.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the user activity site comprises a cursor.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the user activity site comprises a cursor and text.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the likelihood comprises:

determining whether the user activity site will move into a region behind an inactive window; and

wherein the user activity site comprises a cursor and text.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the step of determining the likelihood comprises:

determining whether the user activity site will move to a region outside of the viewable screen area; and

wherein the user activity site comprises a cursor and text.

20. A signal bearing medium containing a program which, when executed by one or more processors, performs a method for displaying a user activity site contained within an active window on a display screen, the method comprising:

detecting whether the user activity site is obstructed by an obstruction; and

if so, displaying the user activity site in a text display area disposed in front of the obstruction.

21. The signal bearing medium of claim 20, wherein the obstruction comprises one or more inactive windows.

22. The signal bearing medium of claim 20, wherein displaying the user activity comprises bringing a portion of the active window containing the user activity site to a foreground.

23. The signal bearing medium of claim 20, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting whether the user activity site will move into a region outside of the display screen; and

if so, wrapping the user activity site to one or more subsequent lines in the text display area.

24. A signal bearing medium containing a program which, when executed by one or more processors, performs a method for displaying a user activity site contained within a visible portion of an active window on a viewable screen area of an output device, the method comprising:

determining a likelihood that the user activity site will move into an unviewable portion of the active window; and

if the likelihood exists, wrapping the user activity site to one or more subsequent lines on the visible portion of the active window.

25. The signal bearing medium of claim 24, wherein the user activity site comprises a cursor and the step of determining the likelihood comprises at least one of:

determining whether a distance between the cursor and an edge of an inactive window is a threshold number of characters; and

determining whether a distance between the cursor and a boundary of the viewable screen area is the threshold number of characters.

26. The signal bearing medium of claim 24, wherein the step of determining the likelihood comprises determining whether the user activity site will move into a region behind an inactive window.

27. The signal bearing medium of claim 24, wherein the step of determining the likelihood comprises determining whether the user activity site will move to a region outside of the viewable screen area.

28. A computer system comprising a display device, a memory and one or more processors configured to execute one or more programs supporting a windows environment comprising an active window within a viewable screen area of an output device;

wherein when executed, the programs perform a method comprising;

detecting whether the user activity site is obstructed by an obstruction; and

if so, displaying the user activity site in a text display area disposed in front of the obstruction.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the obstruction comprises one or more inactive windows.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the text display area is an opening in the obstruction through which the site contained in the active window is made visible.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the method further comprises:

detecting whether the user activity site will move into a region outside of the display screen; and

if so, wrapping the user activity site to one or more subsequent lines in the text display area.

32. A computer system comprising a display device, a memory and one or more processors configured to execute one or more programs supporting a windows environment comprising an active window within a viewable screen area of an output device;

wherein when executed, the programs perform a method comprising;

determining a likelihood that the user activity site will move into an unviewable portion of the active window; and

if the likelihood exists, wrapping the user activity site to one or more subsequent lines on the visible portion of the active window.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the user activity site comprises a cursor and the step of determining the likelihood comprises at least one of:

determining whether a distance between the cursor and an edge of an inactive window is a threshold number of characters; and

determining whether a distance between the cursor and a boundary of the viewable screen area is the threshold number of characters.

34. The system of claim 32, wherein the step of determining the likelihood comprises determining whether the user activity site will move into a region behind an inactive window.

35. The system of claim 32, wherein the step of determining the likelihood comprises determining whether the user activity site will move to a region outside of the viewable screen area.