Management of multiple window panels with a graphical user interface

• US 20050289478A1
• Filed: 06/29/2004
• Published: 12/29/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Canvas GFX Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ACD Systems International Incorporated
• Inventors: de Soto, Joaquin, Landman, Philip
• Granted Patent: US 8,046,712 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/804
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 30/00 Computer-aided design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/20 Drawing from basic elements, e.g. lines or circles

Abstract

A method for managing a plurality of window panels within a computer software application including generating a window panel that is actively controlled by a user interface of a computer software application, indicating that a plurality of window panels generated by the generating are fastened together as a single union, wherein a union comprises at least one window panel that behave together as a single geometrical area when moved by a user within a computer display screen, the indicating occurring when one of the plurality of window panels is in close proximity to another of the plurality of window panels within the computer display screen, rigidly moving a union of window panels as a single geometrical area within the computer display screen, and detecting that a second union is in close proximity to a first union within the computer display screen. A system and a computer readable storage medium are also described and claimed.

Claims

1. A method for managing a plurality of window panels within a computer software application comprising:

generating a window panel that is actively controlled by a user interface of a computer software application;

indicating that a plurality of window panels generated by said generating are fastened together as a single union, wherein a union comprises at least one window panel that behave together as a single geometrical area when moved by a user within a computer display screen, said indicating occurring when one of the plurality of window panels is in close proximity to another of the plurality of window panels within the computer display screen;

rigidly moving a union of window panels as a single geometrical area within the computer display screen; and

detecting that a second union is in close proximity to a first union within the computer display screen.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising closing a window panel that is fastened together with other window panels as a union.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

indicating that an original union of a plurality of window panels is decomposed into two smaller unions, the two smaller unions each behaving as single geometrical areas and the original union no longer behaving as a single geometrical area, when moved by the user within the display screen; and

detecting that a window panel within a union of a plurality of palette windows is being pulled away from the union.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein one of the two smaller unions comprises a window panel that is detected by said detecting as being pulled away from the original union.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said detecting detects that a window panel is being moved while a shift key of a keyboard connected to the computer is being pressed.

6. The method of claim 3 wherein one of the two smaller unions comprises a window panel that is detected by said detecting as being pulled away from the original union, together with window panels within the union that are positioned below and to the right of the detected window panel.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said detecting detects that a window panel is being moved while a control key of a keyboard connected to the computer is being pressed.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising positioning a child window panel alongside a parent window panel, wherein the child window panel is a window panel that is activated from a user interface control displayed within the parent window panel.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising automatically closing the child window panel when a second child window panel is activated from a second user interface control displayed within the parent window.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein window panels can be locked or unlocked, further comprising:

detecting that a window panel is locked; and

automatically closing the child window panel when a second child window panel is activated from a second user interface control displayed within the parent window, unless the child window panel is locked.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein window panels can be locked or unlocked, further comprising:

detecting that a window panel is locked; and

automatically closing the child window panel when the parent window panel is closed, unless the child window panel is locked.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising positioning a plurality of child window panels alongside a parent window panel, wherein each of the child window panels is activated from a corresponding user interface control displayed within the parent window panel.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein window panels can be locked or unlocked, further comprising:

detecting that a window is locked; and

positioning the plurality of child window panels so that the child window panels that are unlocked are positioned to the right of the window panels that are locked.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein window panels can be locked or unlocked, further comprising:

detecting that a window is locked; and

automatically closing the unlocked child window panels when an additional child window panel is opened.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein window panels can be locked or unlocked, further comprising:

detecting that a window is locked; and

automatically closing the unlocked child window panels when the parent window panel is closed.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein the window panels include palettes for the computer software application

17. The method of claim 1 wherein the window panels include groups of tools for the computer software application.

18. A user interface for managing a plurality of window panels comprising:

a panel generator for generating a window panel that is actively controlled by a user interface of a computer software application;

a panel concatenator for indicating that a plurality of window panels generated by said panel generator are fastened together as a single union;

a panel mover for rigidly moving a union of fastened-together window panels as a single geometrical area within a display screen; and

a position detector for detecting that a second window panel is positioned in close proximity to a first window panel within a display screen.

19. The user interface of claim 18 wherein said panel generator closes a window panel that is fastened together with at least one other window panel as a union.

20. The user interface of claim 18 wherein said panel concatenator indicates that an original union of fastened-together window panels is decomposed into two smaller unions, the two smaller unions each behaving as single geometrical areas and the original union no longer behaving as a single geometrical area, when moved by the user within the display screen, and wherein said position detector detects that a window panel within a union of fastened-together window panels is being pulled away from the union.

21. The user interface of claim 20 wherein one of the two smaller unions comprises a window panel that is detected by said detecting as being pulled away from the original union.

22. The user interface of claim 21 wherein said position detector detects that a window panel is being moved while a shift key of a keyboard connected to the computer is being pressed.

23. The user interface of claim 20 wherein one of the two smaller unions comprises a window panel that is detected by said detecting as being pulled away from the original union, together with window panels within the union that are positioned below and to the right of the detected window panel.

24. The user interface of claim 23 wherein said position detector detects that a window panel is being moved while a control key of a keyboard connected to the computer is being pressed.

25. The user interface of claim 18 wherein said panel concatenator positions a child window panel alongside a parent window panel, the child window panel being a window panel generated by said panel generator upon activation of a user interface control displayed within the parent window panel.

26. The user interface of claim 25 wherein said panel generator closes the child window panel, when it generates a second child window panel upon activation of a second user interface control displayed within the parent window panel.

27. The user interface of claim 25 wherein window panels can be locked or unlocked, further comprising a lock detector for detecting that a window panel is locked, and wherein said panel generator closes the child window panel, when it generates a second child window panel upon activation of a second user interface control displayed within the parent window, unless the child window panel is locked.

28. The user interface of claim 25 wherein window panels can be locked or unlocked, further comprising a lock detector for detecting that a window panel is locked, and wherein said panel generator closes the child window panel when it closes the parent window panel, unless the child window panel is locked.

29. The user interface of claim 18 wherein said panel concatenator positions a plurality of child window panels alongside a parent window panel, each of the child window panels being generated by said panel generator upon activation of a corresponding user interface control displayed within the parent window panel.

30. The user interface of claim 29 wherein window panels can be locked or unlocked, further comprising a lock detector for detecting that a window is locked, and wherein said panel concatenator positions the plurality of child window panels so that the child window panels that are unlocked are positioned to the right of the window panels that are locked.

31. The user interface of claim 29 wherein window panels can be locked or unlocked, further comprising a lock detector for detecting that a window is locked, and wherein said panel generator closes the unlocked child window panels when it opens an additional child window panel.

32. The user interface of claim 29 wherein window panels can be locked or unlocked, further comprising a lock detector for detecting that a window is locked, and wherein said panel generator closes the unlocked child window panels when it closes the parent window panel.

33. The user interface of claim 18 wherein the window panels include palettes for the computer software application

34. The user interface of claim 18 wherein the window panels include groups of tools for the computer software application.

35. A method for managing a plurality of window panels within a computer software application comprising:

generating a window panel for a palette that is actively controlled by a user interface of a computer software application;

displaying the window panel within a computer display device;

detecting that a user is applying an action at a location within the display device;

docking the window panel for the palette within a docking bar when said detecting detects that a user is applying a docking action to the window panel;

displaying a tab within the docking bar for enabling the palette when the window panel is docked by said docking;

displaying the palette within an area connected to the tab, but not within a window panel, when said detecting detects that the user is applying an activation action to the tab; and

displaying the palette within a window panel when said detecting detects that the user is applying a generation action to the tab.

36. The method of claim 35 wherein the docking action is pressing on a mouse button when a mouse pointer is positioned within an area of the window panel.

37. The method of claim 35 wherein the activation action is pressing on a mouse button when a mouse pointer is positioned within an area of the tab.

38. The method of claim 35 wherein the generation action is pressing on a mouse button when a mouse pointer is positioned within an area of the tab, and moving the mouse pointer while the mouse button is depressed.

39. The method of claim 35 wherein said displaying a tab within the docking bar for enabling the palette displays the tab when the palette is first activated within the computer software application.

40. The method of claim 35 wherein said displaying a tab within the docking bar for enabling the palette displays the tab when the palette is first activated within the computer software application after having been previously closed.

41. The method of claim 35 wherein said displaying the palette within an area connected to the tab closes the palette when said detecting detects that the user is applying an action at a position outside of the palette display area.

42. A user interface for managing a plurality of window panels within a computer software application comprising:

a panel generator for generating a window panel for a palette that is actively controlled by a user interface of a computer software application, and for displaying the window panel within a computer display device;

a user input detector for detecting that a user is applying an action at a location within the display device;

a docking manager for docking the window panel for the palette within a docking bar of the user interface when said user input detector detects that a user is applying a docking action to the window panel; and

a display manager (i) for displaying a tab within the docking bar for enabling the palette when said window docking manager docks the window panel, (ii) for displaying the palette within an area connected to the tab, but not within a window panel, when said user input detector detects that the user is applying an activation action to the tab, and (iii) for displaying the palette within a window panel when said user input detector detects that the user is applying a generation action to the tab.

43. The user interface of claim 42 wherein the docking action is pressing on a mouse button when a mouse pointer is positioned within an area of the window panel on the display device.

44. The user interface of claim 43 wherein the activation action is pressing on a mouse button when a mouse pointer is positioned within an area of the tab on the display device.

45. The method of claim 42 wherein the generation action is pressing on a mouse button when a mouse pointer is positioned within an area of the tab on the display device, and moving the mouse pointer while the mouse button is depressed.

46. The user interface of claim 42 wherein said display manager displays the tab for enabling the palette within the docking bar when the palette is first activated within the computer software application.

47. The user interface of claim 42 wherein said display manager displays the tab for enabling the palette within the docking bar when the palette is first activated within the computer software application after having been previously closed.

48. The user interface of claim 42 wherein said display manager closes the palette that is displayed within an area connected to the tab when said user input detector detects that the user is applying an action at a position outside of the palette display area.

49. A method for managing a plurality of controls within a display bar, comprising:

detecting that a user is applying a page forward action to advance a display bar from a current portion to a next portion;

determining at least one control from among a plurality of controls that are to be visible when the display bar is advanced to the next portion; and

displaying the visible controls within the next portion of the display bar, in response to said detecting.

50. The method of claim 49 wherein the page forward action is pressing on a mouse while the mouse pointer is positioned over a page forward button.

51. The method of claim 49 further comprising:

further detecting that a user is applying a page backward action to adjust a display bar from a current portion to a preceding portion;

further determining at least one control from among a plurality of controls that are to be visible when the display bar is adjusted to the preceding portion; and

further displaying the visible controls within the preceding portion of the display bar, in response to said further detecting.

52. The method of claim 51 wherein the page backward action is pressing on a mouse while the mouse pointer is positioned over a page backward button.

53. A user interface for managing a plurality of controls within a display bar, comprising:

a user input detector for detecting that a user is applying a page forward action to advance a display bar from a current portion to a next portion;

a window processor for determining at least one control from among a plurality of controls that are to be visible when the display bar is advanced to the next portion; and

a display processor for displaying the visible controls within the next portion of the display bar, in response to said user input detector detecting the page forward action.

54. The user interface of claim 53 wherein the page forward action is pressing on a mouse while the mouse pointer is positioned over a page forward button.

55. The user interface of claim 53 wherein said user input detector detects that a user is applying a page backward action to adjust a display bar from a current portion to a preceding portion, wherein said window processor determines at least one control from among a plurality of controls that are to be visible when the display bar is adjusted to the preceding portion, and wherein said display processor displays the visible controls within the preceding portion of the display bar, in response to said user input detector detecting the page backward action.

56. The user interface of claim 55 wherein the page backward action is pressing on a mouse while the mouse pointer is positioned over a page backward button.

57. A method for managing a context-dependent display bar, comprising:

identifying a graphical object currently selected by a user who is interactively running a graphics software application through a graphical user interface to process an image, wherein the image is a vector image or a raster image or a combination vector and raster image;

identifying a current edit mode in which the user is working;

identifying a tool currently activated by the user;

determining a current context in which the user is working, the context depending upon the identified graphical object, the identified edit mode, and the identified tool;

identifying at least one control associated with the current context;

displaying the image; and

displaying the associated controls for the current context within a display bar of the graphical user interface.

58. The method of claim 57 wherein a control has a corresponding handler, and wherein the handler modifies the image.

59. The method of claim 57 further comprising:

receiving notification of an event triggered by the user performing an input action on a selected one of the displayed controls; and

notifying the handler of the selected control.

60. The method of claim 57 wherein a context has a unique identifier, and wherein said identifying at least one control comprises accessing a look-up table keyed on identifiers for contexts.

61. A user interface for managing a context-dependent display bar, comprising:

a context processor comprising;

a state identifier for identifying (i) a graphical object being selected by a user who is interactively running a graphics software application to process a image, wherein the image is a vector image or a raster image or a combination vector and raster image, (ii) an edit mode within which the user is working, (iii) a tool activated by the user, and (iv) at least one control associated with a current context in which a user is working; and

a context identifier for determining the current context, the current context depending upon the identified graphical object, the identified edit mode, and the identified tool; and

a display manager operatively coupled with said context processor for displaying (i) the image, and (ii) a display bar including the associated controls for the current context.

62. The user interface of claim 61 wherein a control has a corresponding handler, and wherein the handler modifies the digital image.

63. The user interface of claim 61 further comprising:

a message receiver for receiving notification of an event triggered by the user performing an input action on a selected one of the displayed controls; and

a message sender for notifying the handler of the selected control.

64. The user interface of claim 61 wherein a context has a unique identifier, and wherein said state identifier accesses a look-up table keyed on identifiers for contexts.

65. A computer readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

generating a window panel that is actively controlled by a user interface of a computer software application;

indicating that a plurality of window panels generated by the generating are fastened together as a single union, wherein a union comprises at least one window panel that behave together as a single geometrical area when moved by a user within a computer display screen, the indicating occurring when one of the plurality of window panels is in close proximity to another of the plurality of window panels within the computer display screen;

rigidly moving a union of window panels as a single geometrical area within the computer display screen; and

detecting that a second union is in close proximity to a first union within the computer display screen.

66. A computer readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

generating a window panel for a palette that is actively controlled by a user interface of a computer software application;

displaying the window panel within a computer display device;

detecting that a user is applying an action at a location within the display device;

docking the window panel for the palette within a docking bar when the detecting detects that a user is applying a docking action to the window panel;

displaying a tab within the docking bar for enabling the palette when the window panel is docked by the docking;

displaying the palette within an area connected to the tab, but not within a window panel, when the detecting detects that the user is applying an activation action to the tab; and

displaying the palette within a window panel when the detecting detects that the user is applying a generation action to the tab.

67. A computer readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

detecting that a user is applying a page forward action to advance a display bar from a current portion to a next portion;

determining at least one control from among a plurality of controls that are to be visible when the display bar is advanced to the next portion; and

displaying the visible controls within the next portion of the display bar, in response to the detecting.

68. A computer readable storage medium storing program code for causing a computer to perform the steps of:

identifying a graphical object being selected by a user who is interactively running a graphics software application through a graphical user interface to process an image, wherein the image is a vector image or a raster image or a combination vector and raster image;

identifying an edit mode within which the user is working;

identifying a tool activated by the user;

determining a context, the context depending upon the identified graphical object, the identified edit mode, and the identified tool;

identifying at least one control associated with the context;

displaying the image; and

displaying the associated controls within a display bar of the graphical user interface.