System for and method of generating and navigating within a workspace of a computer application

• US 20050188329A1
• Filed: 02/20/2004
• Published: 08/25/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advanced Intellectual Property Group LLC
• Original Assignee: Advanced Intellectual Property Group LLC
• Inventors: Cutler, Stephen, MacKenzie, William III
• Granted Patent: US 8,276,095 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/804
• 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: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

A computer application and method for generating a workspace and navigating therein are disclosed. Code can be used to generate an application workspace for an associated computer application, wherein the application workspace is comprised of a plurality of screens and each screen has dimensions that are generally coextensive with a viewable area defined by the computer application. Code can be used to logically associate a plurality of sub-application windows for displaying viewable content with respective locations of the application workspace.

Claims

1. A computer application workspace generation and navigation tool embodied on a computer-readable medium, comprising code that generates an application workspace for an associated main computer application, the application workspace comprised of a plurality of screens, each screen having dimensions that are generally coextensive with a viewable area defined by the main computer application.

2. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 1, further comprising code that logically associates a plurality of sub-application windows with respective locations of the application workspace, the sub-application windows for displaying content of at least one sub-application that is associated with the main computer application.

3. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 2, further comprising code that increases the number of screens if, by user action, one of the sub-application windows is moved to a new location outside dimensions of the application workspace.

4. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 3, wherein the code that increases the number of screens adds screens in a number that is in excess of that needed to accommodate the new location of the sub-application window.

5. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 2, further comprising code that logically associates each sub-application window with a screen in which a majority of the sub-application window is disposed.

6. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 2, further comprising code that stores an arrangement of sub-application windows disposed within the application workspace.

7. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 6, further comprising code that retrieves the stored arrangement of sub-application windows.

8. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 2, further comprising code that stores a layout of the application workspace including a number and arrangement of screens and relative location of each sub-application window.

9. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 8, further comprising code that retrieves the stored layout.

10. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 2, further comprising code that scales the application workspace and sub-application windows such that each screen has a dimension smaller than the viewable area.

11. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 2, further comprising code that scales the application workspace and sub-application windows such that each screen has a dimension larger than the viewable area.

12. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 2, further comprising code that, upon initiation of one of the sub-application windows, logically associates the sub-application window with a location of the application workspace identified by user action.

13. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 12, further comprising code to provide the user with a user moveable placement means, wherein the location of the application workspace identified by user action corresponds to a location of the placement means relative to the application workspace.

14. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 1, wherein the screens are contiguously arranged in a matrix.

15. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 1, wherein the screens are arranged contiguously such that the application workspace is continuous.

16. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 1, further comprising code that increases the number of screens and a corresponding dimension of the application workspace in accordance with a user action.

17. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 1, further comprising code that decreases the number of screens and a corresponding dimension of the application workspace in accordance with a user action.

18. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 1, further comprising code that generates a navigation box that includes a representation of each screen.

19. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 18, wherein the screen representations are arranged to have a topography corresponding to a topography of the screens.

20. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 18, further comprising code that, in response to user selection of one of the screen representations in the navigation box, displays the corresponding screen in the viewable area defined by the main computer application.

21. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 18, further comprising code that logically associates a plurality of sub-application windows with respective locations of the application workspace, the sub-application windows for displaying content of at least one sub-application that is associated with the main computer application.

22. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 21, further comprising code that logically associates each sub-application window with a screen in which a majority of the sub-application window is disposed and code that displays a representation of each sub-application window in association with the representation of the logically associated screen.

23. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 22, further comprising code that moves a user selected sub-application window from a logically associated screen to another screen in response to user initiated movement of the corresponding representation of the sub-application window in the navigation box.

24. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 22, further comprising code that displays information relating to one of the sub-application windows in response to user action in connection with the representation of the one of the sub-application windows in the navigation box.

25. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 1, further comprising code that provides a drop down menu from which a user can select one of the plurality of screens for display in the viewable area defined by the main computer application.

26. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 1, wherein the code that generates the application workspace generates a plurality of application workspaces for the main computer application.

27. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 1, wherein each screen is associated with a unique identifying feature.

28. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 27, wherein the unique identifying feature is selected from a background color, a background pattern and a combination thereof.

29. A computer application workspace generation and navigation tool embodied on a computer-readable medium, comprising:

code that generates an application workspace for an associated main computer application;

code that logically associates a plurality of sub-application windows with respective locations of the application workspace, the sub-application windows for displaying content of at least one sub-application that is associated with the main computer application; and

code that stores the logical associations of the at least one sub-application window as an application workspace arrangement.

30. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 29, further comprising code that retrieves the stored application workspace arrangement.

31. A computer application workspace generation and navigation tool embodied on a computer-readable medium, comprising:

code that generates an application workspace for an associated main computer application;

code that logically associates a plurality of sub-application windows with respective locations of the application workspace, the sub-application windows for displaying content of at least one sub-application that is associated with the main computer application; and

code that stores a layout of the application workspace including a number and arrangement of screens that define the application workspace and relative location of each sub-application window within the application workspace.

32. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 31, further comprising code that retrieves the layout.

33. A computer application workspace generation and navigation tool embodied on a computer-readable medium, comprising:

code that generates a workspace for at least one of a computer application and an operating system desktop; and

code that, upon initiation of a window, logically associates the window with a location of the workspace identified by user action.

34. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 33, further comprising code to provide the user with a user moveable placement means, wherein the location of the workspace identified by user action corresponds to a location of the placement means relative to the workspace.

35. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 34, wherein the placement means is a placement pointer having a position that defines the location of the workspace identified by user action.

36. The workspace generation and navigation tool according to claim 34, wherein the placement means is a placement tool for marking the location of the workspace identified by user action.

37. A method of generating a computer application workspace, comprising generating an application workspace for a main computer application, the application workspace comprised of a plurality of screens, each screen having dimensions that are generally coextensive with a viewable area defined by the main computer application.

38. The method according to claim 37, further comprising logically associating a plurality of sub-application windows with respective locations of the application workspace, the sub-application windows for displaying content of at least one sub-application that is associated with the main computer application.

39. The method according to claim 38, further comprising increasing the number of screens if, by user action, one of the sub-application windows is moved to a new location outside dimensions of the application workspace.

40. The method according to claim 39, wherein screens are added in a number that is in excess of that needed to accommodate the new location of the sub-application window.

41. The method according to claim 38, further comprising logically associating each sub-application window with a screen in which a majority of the sub-application window is disposed.

42. The method according to claim 38, further comprising storing an arrangement of sub-application windows disposed within the application workspace.

43. The method according to claim 42, further comprising retrieving the stored arrangement of sub-application windows.

44. The method according to claim 38, further comprising storing a layout of the application workspace including a number and arrangement of screens and relative location of each sub-application window.

45. The method according to claim 44, further comprising retrieving the stored layout.

46. The method according to claim 38, further comprising scaling the application workspace and sub-application windows such that each screen has a dimension smaller than the viewable area.

47. The method according to claim 38, further comprising scaling the application workspace and sub-application windows such that each screen has a dimension larger than the viewable area.

48. The method according to claim 38, further comprising, upon initiation of one of the sub-application windows, logically associating the sub-application window with a location of the application workspace identified by user action.

49. The method according to claim 48, further comprising providing the user with a user moveable placement means, wherein the location of the application workspace identified by user action corresponds to a location of the placement means relative to the application workspace.

50. The method according to claim 37, wherein the screens are contiguously arranged in a matrix.

51. The method according to claim 37, wherein the screens are arranged contiguously such that the application workspace is continuous.

52. The method according to claim 37, further comprising increasing the number of screens and a corresponding dimension of the application workspace in accordance with a user action.

53. The method according to claim 37, further comprising decreasing the number of screens and a corresponding dimension of the application workspace in accordance with a user action.

54. The method according to claim 37, further comprising generating a navigation box that includes a representation of each screen.

55. The method according to claim 54, wherein the screen representations are arranged to have a topography corresponding to a topography of the screens.

56. The method according to claim 54, further comprising, in response to user selection of one of the screen representations in the navigation box, displaying the corresponding screen in the viewable area defined by the main computer application.

57. The method according to claim 54, further comprising logically associating a plurality of sub-application windows with respective locations of the application workspace, the sub-application windows for displaying content of at least one sub-application that is associated with the main computer application.

58. The method according to claim 57, further logically associating each sub-application window with a screen in which a majority of the sub-application window is disposed and displaying a representation of each sub-application window in association with the representation of the logically associated screen.

59. The method according to claim 58, further comprising moving a user selected sub-application window from a logically associated screen to another screen in response to user initiated movement of the corresponding representation of the sub-application window in the navigation box.

60. The method according to claim 58, further comprising displaying information relating to one of the sub-application windows in response to user action in connection with the representation of the one of the sub-application windows in the navigation box.

61. The method according to claim 37, further comprising providing a drop down menu from which a user can select one of the plurality of screens for display in the viewable area defined by the main computer application.

62. The method according to claim 37, further comprising generating a plurality of application workspaces for the main computer application.

63. The method according to claim 37, further comprising associating a unique identifying feature with each screen.

64. The method according to claim 63, wherein the unique identifying feature is selected from a background color, a background pattern and a combination thereof.

65. A method of generating a computer application workspace, comprising:

providing an application workspace for an associated main computer application;

logically associating a plurality of sub-application windows with respective locations of the application workspace, the sub-application windows for displaying content of at least one sub-application that is associated with the main computer application; and

storing the logical associations of the at least one sub-application window as an application workspace arrangement.

66. The method according to claim 65, further comprising retrieving the stored application workspace arrangement.

67. A method of generating a computer application workspace, comprising:

providing an application workspace for an associated main computer application;

logically associating a plurality of sub-application windows with respective locations of the application workspace, the sub-application windows for displaying content of at least one sub-application that is associated with the main application;

storing a layout of the application workspace including a number and arrangement of screens that define the application workspace and relative location of each sub-application window within the application workspace.

68. The method according to claim 67, further comprising retrieving the layout.

69. A method of generating a computer application workspace, comprising:

providing a workspace for at least one of a computer application and an operating system desktop; and

upon initiation of a window, logically associating the window with a location of the workspace identified by user action.

70. The method according to claim 69, further comprising providing the user with a user moveable placement means, wherein the location of the application workspace identified by user action corresponds to a location of the placement means relative to the application workspace.

71. The method according to claim 70, wherein the placement means is a placement pointer having a position that defines the location of the workspace identified by user action.

72. The method according to claim 70, wherein the placement means is a placement tool for marking the location of the workspace identified by user action.