Method, apparatus and computer program product for projecting objects in a display unit

• US 20040012538A1
• Filed: 07/18/2002
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bhogal, Kulvir Singh
• Granted Patent: US 7,171,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/1.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1431 using a single graphics controller

Abstract

In a method form of the invention, objects are projected in a first display unit for a computer system. The computer system enables designating one of the objects projected in the first display unit. The designated object is projected in a second display unit communicatively connected to the computer system. The designated object is projected as an active object in one of the display units concurrently with projecting it as a non-active object in the other of the display units.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a computer system operable for projecting objects in a first display unit;

means for enabling a designation of one of the objects;

means for projecting the designated object as an object in a second display unit communicatively connected to the computer system, wherein the projecting means comprises means for projecting the designated object as an active object in one of the display units concurrently with the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the other display unit.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the designated object is projected as an active object in the second display unit concurrently with the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the first display unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the designated object is projected as an active object in the first display unit concurrently with the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the second display unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the second display unit has at least a portion of the designated object hidden in the first display unit projection, and wherein the projecting means comprises means for projecting as visible in the second display unit the at least portion of the designated object that is hidden in the first display unit projection.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the second display unit is minimized in the first display unit.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the second display unit is restored in the first display unit.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the means for enabling the designation of the object comprises means for providing a button associated with the object.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the button is in the first display unit projection of the designated object.

9. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the enabling means comprises means for projecting an object manipulation window in the first display unit, wherein upon being initially opened the window replicates a projection of objects projected in the first display unit.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the object manipulation window comprises means for selecting a size for the projection of the designated object in the second display unit.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the size selection means comprises means to drag the designated object in the object manipulation window.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the object manipulation window comprises means for selecting a location for the projection of the designated object in the second display unit.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the location selection means comprises means to drag an edge of the designated object in the object manipulation window.

14. A method comprising the steps of:

enabling a designation of a non-active object projected in a first display unit connected to a first computer system; and

projecting the designated object as an object in a second display unit communicatively connected to the first computer system, wherein the designated object is projected as an active object in one of the display units concurrently with the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the other display unit.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the designated object is projected as an active object in the second display unit concurrently with the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the first display unit.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the designated object is projected as an active object in the first display unit concurrently with the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the second display unit.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the designated object being projected as a non-active in the first display unit has at least a portion of the designated object hidden in the first display unit projection, and wherein the projecting comprises projecting as visible in the second display unit the at least portion of the designated object that is hidden in the first display unit projection.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the second display unit is minimized in the first display unit.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the second display unit is restored in the first display unit.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the enabling of the designation of the non-active object comprises providing a button associated with the object.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein providing the button comprises displaying the button with the non-active object in the first display unit.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the enabling of the designation of the non-active object comprises projecting an object manipulation window in the first display unit, wherein the window replicates a projection of objects projected in the first display unit.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the object manipulation window enables selecting a location for the projection of the designated object in the second display unit.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the selecting of a location comprises dragging the designated object in the object manipulation window using a pointer device.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the object manipulation window enables selecting a size for the projection of the designated object in the second display unit.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein the selecting of a size comprises dragging an edge of the designated object in the object manipulation window using a pointer device.

27. A computer program on a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means comprising:

instructions for enabling a designation of an object, wherein the designated object is non-active in a first display unit connected to a first computer system; and

instructions for projecting the designated object as an object in a second display unit communicatively connected to the first computer system, wherein the designated object is projected as an active object in one of the display units concurrently with the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the other display unit.

28. The program code means of claim 27, wherein the designated object is projected as an active object in the second display unit concurrently with the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the first display unit.

29. The program code means of claim 27, wherein the designated object is projected as an active object in the first display unit concurrently with the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the second display unit.

30. The program code means of claim 28, wherein the designated object being projected as a non-active in the first display unit has at least a portion of the designated object hidden in the first display unit projection, and wherein the instructions for projecting comprise instructions for projecting as visible in the second display unit the at least portion of the designated object that is hidden in the first display unit projection.

31. The program code means of claim 30, wherein the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the second display unit is minimized in the first display unit.

32. The program code means of claim 30, wherein the designated object being projected as a non-active object in the second display unit is restored in the first display unit.

33. The program code means of claim 28, wherein the instructions for enabling the designation of the non-active object comprise instructions for providing a button associated with the object.

34. The program code means of claim 33, wherein instructions for providing the button comprise instructions for projecting the button in the first display unit projection of the designated object.

35. The program code means of claim 28, wherein the instructions for enabling the designation of the non-active object comprise instructions for projecting an object manipulation window in the first display unit, wherein the window replicates a projection of objects projected in the first display unit.

36. The program code means of claim 35, wherein the instructions for projecting an object manipulation window comprise instructions for enabling selection of a location for the projection of the designated object in the second display unit.

37. The of claim 36, wherein the selecting of a location comprises dragging the designated object in the object manipulation window using a pointer device.

38. The program code means of claim 35, wherein the instructions for projecting an object manipulation window comprise instructions for enabling selection of a size for the projection of the designated object in the second display unit.

39. The of claim 38, wherein the selecting of a size comprises dragging an edge of the designated object in the object manipulation window using a pointer device.