Interactive graphical user interfaces for computer display systems with simplified implementation for exposing completely hidden windows
First Claim
1. In a computer controlled interactive display system comprising a stored hierarchy of windows that are displayable to overlap each other in a selected order to form a displayed stack of windows, a system for displaying on a display screen at least a portion of each of a set of said windows initially completely hidden within said stack comprising:
- means for defining each hidden window in said stack of windows;
means for mapping for each hidden window the collective perimeter of all of the windows in said stack above said hidden window;
means enabling a user to input a display hidden windows command; and
means responsive to said display hidden windows command for moving each hidden window in an orthogonal direction until a least a portion of the moved hidden window extends said collective perimeter of the windows above said moved window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Displaying on a display screen at least a portion of each of a set of windows initially completely hidden within said stack. Defining each hidden window in the stack of windows and mapping for each hidden window the collective perimeter of all of the windows in the stack above the hidden window. A user is enabled to input a display hidden windows command and, responsive to the “display hidden windows” command, each hidden window in an orthogonal direction until a least a portion of the moved hidden window extends beyond the collective perimeter of the windows above said moved window. For ease of use, the display hidden windows command may be an item, e.g. icon on the display screen. If the hidden window has a border region, as described above, identifying the window, then the means for moving the window preferably moves the window in an orthogonal direction whereby this identifying border extends beyond said collective perimeter on said display screen.
41 Citations
18 Claims
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1. In a computer controlled interactive display system comprising a stored hierarchy of windows that are displayable to overlap each other in a selected order to form a displayed stack of windows, a system for displaying on a display screen at least a portion of each of a set of said windows initially completely hidden within said stack comprising:
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means for defining each hidden window in said stack of windows;
means for mapping for each hidden window the collective perimeter of all of the windows in said stack above said hidden window;
means enabling a user to input a display hidden windows command; and
means responsive to said display hidden windows command for moving each hidden window in an orthogonal direction until a least a portion of the moved hidden window extends said collective perimeter of the windows above said moved window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 15, 17, 18)
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7. In a computer controlled interactive display system comprising a stored hierarchy of windows that are displayable to overlap each other in a selected order to form a displayed stack of windows, a method for displaying on a display screen at least a portion of each of a set of said windows initially completely hidden within said stack comprising:
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defining each hidden window in said stack of windows;
mapping for each hidden window the collective perimeter of all of the windows in said stack above said hidden window;
enabling a user to input a display hidden windows command; and
in response to said display hidden windows command, moving each hidden window in an orthogonal direction until at least a portion of the moved hidden window extends said collective perimeter of the windows above said moved window. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer program having code recorded on a computer readable medium for displaying on a display screen at least a portion of each of a set of windows initially completely hidden within a computer controlled interactive display system comprising a stored hierarchy of windows that are displayable to overlap each other in a selected order to form a displayed stack of windows, said computer program comprising:
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means for defining each hidden window in said stack of windows;
means for mapping for each hidden window the collective perimeter of all of the windows in said stack above said hidden window;
means enabling a user to input a display hidden windows command; and
means responsive to said display hidden windows command for moving each hidden window in an orthogonal direction until at least a portion of the moved hidden window extends said collective perimeter of the windows above said moved window. - View Dependent Claims (14, 16)
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Specification