Computer interface having a single window mode of operation
First Claim
1. A method for displaying data to users in a computer system in which a plurality of different tasks are being concurrently executed, comprising the steps of:
- displaying each of said plurality of different tasks in the form of either an open window or a minimized representation of the task, wherein only one of said two forms of display is visible for each of said plurality of tasks;
displaying the active one of the tasks as an open window and displaying a minimized representation for each inactive task;
detecting the selection of a task other than the active task; and
replacing the display of the open window for the active task with a minimized representation of that task, and displaying an open window for the selected task instead of its minimized representation, in response to said selection.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-human interface manages the available space of a computer display in a manner which reduces clutter and confusion caused by multiple open windows. The interface includes a user-selectable mode of operation in which only those windows associated with the currently active task are displayed on the computer monitor. All other windows relating to non-active tasks are minimized by reducing them in size or replacing them with a representative symbol, such as an icon, so that they occupy a minimal amount of space on the monitor'"'"'s screen. When a user switches from the current task to a new task, by selecting a minimized window, the windows associated with the current task are automatically minimized as the window pertaining to the new task is displayed at its normal size. As a result, the user is only presented with the window that relates to the current task of interest, and clutter provided by non-active tasks is removed.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for displaying data to users in a computer system in which a plurality of different tasks are being concurrently executed, comprising the steps of:
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displaying each of said plurality of different tasks in the form of either an open window or a minimized representation of the task, wherein only one of said two forms of display is visible for each of said plurality of tasks;
displaying the active one of the tasks as an open window and displaying a minimized representation for each inactive task;
detecting the selection of a task other than the active task; and
replacing the display of the open window for the active task with a minimized representation of that task, and displaying an open window for the selected task instead of its minimized representation, in response to said selection. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A computer-readable medium containing program code for a user interface which executes the steps of:
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displaying each of a plurality of different tasks, in the form of either an open window or a minimized representation of the task, wherein only one of said two forms of display is visible for each of said plurality of tasks;
displaying the active one of the tasks as an open window and displaying a minimized representation for each inactive task;
detecting the selection of a task other than the active task; and
replacing the display of the open window for the active task with a minimized representation of that task and displaying an open window for the selected task instead of its minimized representation, in response to said selection. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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- 17. A user interface for a computer in which a plurality of different tasks are being concurrently executed, wherein each of said tasks is indicated on a display in the form of either an open window or a minimized representation of the task, such that only one of said two forms of indications is visible for each of said plurality of tasks, and wherein the active one of said tasks is indicated by an open window and the inactive tasks are indicated by respective minimized representations, and further wherein, in response to selection of a task other than the active task, the open window indication of the active task is replaced by its minimized representation and the minimized representation of the selected task is replaced with an open window indication.
Specification