Active window switcher

• US 20040001101A1
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Published: 01/01/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Trajkovic, Miroslav, Gutta, Srinivas, Philomin, Vasanth
• Application Number:
  US10/183,797
• Publication Number:
  US 20040001101A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/84 output devices, e.g. displays or monitors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2137 Time limited access, e.g. to a computer or data
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A method for automatically switching a protected window displayed on a monitor where the monitor is connected to a processor that receives external input. The method includes the steps of: detecting a time period of inactivity of the external input; and inactivating the protected window if the time period of inactivity detected is above a predetermined threshold. The inactivating of the protected window preferably includes either minimizing the protected window, closing the protected window, or changing the protected window to a default window.

Claims

1. A method for automatically switching a protected window displayed on a monitor, the monitor being connected to a processor which receives external input, the method comprising:

detecting a time period of inactivity of the external input; and

inactivating the protected window if the time period of inactivity detected is above a predetermined threshold.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting the predetermined threshold by a user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the inactivating comprises minimizing the protected window.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the inactivating comprises closing the protected window.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the inactivating comprises changing the protected window to a default window.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising reactivating the inactivated window.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the reactivating comprises entering a unique password corresponding to the user.

15. The program storage device of claim 1, wherein the method further comprising reactivating the inactivated window.

8. A computer program product embodied in a computer-readable medium for automatically switching a protected window displayed on a monitor, the monitor being connected to a processor which receives external input, the computer program product comprising:

computer readable program code means for detecting a time period of inactivity of the external input; and

computer readable program code means for inactivating the protected window if the time period of inactivity detected is above a predetermined threshold.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising computer readable program code means for setting the predetermined threshold by a user.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising computer readable program code means for reactivating the inactivated window.

11. A program storage device readable by machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform method steps for automatically switching a protected window displayed on a monitor, the monitor being connected to a processor which receives external input, the method comprising:

detecting a time period of inactivity of the external input; and

inactivating the protected window if the time period of inactivity detected is above a predetermined threshold.

12. The program storage device of claim 11, wherein the inactivating comprises minimizing the protected window.

13. The program storage device of claim 11, wherein the inactivating comprises closing the protected window.

14. The program storage device of claim 11, wherein the inactivating comprises changing the protected window to a default window.

16. An apparatus for automatically switching a protected window displayed on a monitor, the apparatus comprising:

a monitor under the control of a processor which receives external input;

means for providing instructions to the processor for automatically inactivating the protected window displayed on the monitor after a predetermined time period of inactivity of the external input;

means for detecting a time period of inactivity; and

means for inactivating the protected window when the time period of inactivity detected is above the predetermined threshold.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for setting the predetermined threshold by a user.

18. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising means for reactivating the inactivated window.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the means for reactivating comprises means for entering a unique password corresponding to the user.