Simplified interactive graphical user interfaces for sorting through a stack of overlapping windows on a display in order along the Z (depth) axis
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 along the depth (Z) axis, a system enabling an interactive user to sort through the stack of windows in order along the Z axis comprising:
- means for designating a starting window in said stack;
means for displaying said starting window in focus;
means for scrolling along said Z axis from said starting window to thereby sequentially display subsequent windows in the stack in said selected order;
means after each of said sequentially displayed windows for fading the currently displayed window out of focus; and
means, after each of said means for fading the currently displayed window, for then bringing the next subsequent window into displayed focus.
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Abstract
An implementation to simplify GUI display interfaces having stacks of overlapping windows by enabling an interactive user to sort through the stacks of windows in a user friendly intuitive manner without resizing or moving any of the windows in the stack. A computer controlled interactive display system includes a stored hierarchy of windows that are displayable to overlap each other in a selected order to form a displayed stack of windows along the depth (Z) axis. An implementation for designating a starting window in said stack, and for displaying this starting window in focus. Then, scrolling along said Z axis from this starting window to thereby sequentially display subsequent windows in the stack in the selected order. After each of the sequentially displayed windows, an implementation for fading the starting or currently displayed window out of focus and after each fading out of the currently displayed window, for then bringing the next subsequent window into displayed focus.
61 Citations
20 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 along the depth (Z) axis, a system enabling an interactive user to sort through the stack of windows in order along the Z axis comprising:
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means for designating a starting window in said stack;
means for displaying said starting window in focus;
means for scrolling along said Z axis from said starting window to thereby sequentially display subsequent windows in the stack in said selected order;
means after each of said sequentially displayed windows for fading the currently displayed window out of focus; and
means, after each of said means for fading the currently displayed window, for then bringing the next subsequent window into displayed focus. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. In a computer controlled interactive display method comprising storing a hierarchy of windows that are displayable to overlap each other in a selected order to form a displayed stack of windows along the depth (Z) axis, a method enabling an interactive user to sort through the stack of windows in order along the Z axis comprising:
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designating a starting window in said stack;
displaying said starting window in focus;
scrolling along said Z axis from said starting window to thereby sequentially display subsequent windows in the stack in said selected order;
fading the currently displayed window out of focus after each of said sequentially displayed windows; and
then bringing the next subsequent window into displayed focus after each of said steps of fading of the currently displayed window. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer program having code recorded on a computer readable medium for enabling an interactive user to sort through the stack of windows in order along the Z axis 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 along the depth (Z) axis, said program comprising:
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means for designating a starting window in said stack;
means for displaying said starting window in focus;
means for scrolling along said Z axis from said starting window to thereby sequentially display subsequent windows in the stack in said selected order;
means after each of said sequentially displayed windows for fading the currently displayed window out of focus; and
means, after each of said means for fading the currently displayed window, for then bringing the next subsequent window into displayed focus. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification