Non-overlapping graphical user interface workspace
First Claim
1. A method for managing movement of objects within a workspace of a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising the steps of:
- configuring said GUI into a non-overlapping workspace;
situating at least two of said objects in said non-overlapping workspace;
pushing a second of said objects in said non-overlapping workspace when a first of said objects comes in contact with said second of said objects while being moved.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user interface mechanism that introduces a novel concept referred to as a “non-overlapping workspace”. A system user can switch between the traditional overlapping workspace and the novel non-overlapping workspace, depending upon how they wish to move and manage objects in the workspace. In the non-overlapping mode, as the user moves a selected object to relocate it within the work area, as its border touches another object, the selected object pushes the other object (rather than cover it). In an alternative embodiment, when the system is in the non-overlapping mode, objects on the desktop have “sticky” borders, that is, as the border of a selected object comes into contact with the border of another object, the two objects are coupled to each other as though they were glued together, forming an “object unit”.
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Citations
24 Claims
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1. A method for managing movement of objects within a workspace of a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising the steps of:
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configuring said GUI into a non-overlapping workspace;
situating at least two of said objects in said non-overlapping workspace;
pushing a second of said objects in said non-overlapping workspace when a first of said objects comes in contact with said second of said objects while being moved. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A system for managing movement of objects within a workspace of a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising:
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means for configuring said GUI into a non-overlapping workspace;
means for situating at least two of said objects in said non-overlapping workspace; and
means for pushing a second of said objects in said non-overlapping workspace when a first of said objects comes in contact with said second of said objects while being moved. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. Computer readable code for managing movement of objects within a workspace of a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising:
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first subprocesses for configuring said GUI into a non-overlapping workspace;
second subprocesses for situating at least two of said objects in said non-overlapping workspace; and
third subprocesses for pushing a second of said objects in said non-overlapping workspace when a first of said objects comes in contact with said second of said objects while being moved. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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Specification