Enhancing visual representation and other effects for application management on a device with a small screen

• US 20070250787A1
• Filed: 04/21/2006
• Published: 10/25/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/21/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Sun Microsystems Incorporated (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Byrne, Paul, Hong, Yoojin, Kawahara, Hideya, Sasaki, Curtis, Ludolph, Frank
• Application Number:
  US11/409,192
• Publication Number:
  US 20070250787A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/782
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses three-dimensional (3D) and other rendering effects within a graphical display environment on a mobile device to enable a new application to be displayed while a currently-running application window remains visible within a main viewing area of a screen. During operation, the system receives a request to display a new application in the graphical display environment. Next, in response to the request, the system generates a slanted view of the currently-running application window by slanting the currently-running application window through a 3D rendering effect and moving the currently-running application window towards an edge of the screen to make room for the new application. Finally, the system displays the new application in a new display window next to the slanted view of the currently-running application window.

Claims

1. A method for using three-dimensional (3D) and other rendering effects within a graphical display environment on a mobile device to enable a new application to be displayed while a currently-running application window remains visible within a main viewing area of a screen, the method comprising:

receiving a request to display a new application in the graphical display environment;

in response to the request, generating a slanted view of the currently-running application window by slanting the currently-running application window through a 3D rendering effect and moving the currently-running application window towards an edge of the screen to make room for the new application; and

displaying the new application in a new display window next to the slanted view of the currently-running application window.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein if the new application completes running before the currently-running application completes, the method further comprises:

closing the new display window for the new application in the main viewing area of the screen; and

restoring the currently-running application window back to original size, shape and position in the main viewing area of a screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the new application is an interrupting application.

4. A method for using three-dimensional (3D) and other rendering effects within a graphical display environment on a mobile device to enable a second application which is displayed in the background of the graphical display environment to receive attention from a user who is interacting with a first application, the method comprising:

displaying a window for the first application in a main viewing area of the graphical display environment;

displaying a scaled-down window for the second application in the graphical display environment; and

when the second application requires attention, applying a 3D rendering effect to the displayed scaled-down window for the second application to alert the user that the second application requires attention.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the scaled-down window for the second application in the graphical display environment is displayed next to the window for the first application in the main viewing area, wherein the scaled-down window is miniaturized.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the scaled-down window for the second application in the graphical display environment is displayed so that the scaled-down window overlaps the window for the first application in the main viewing area, wherein the scaled-down window is translucent.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein the 3D rendering effect can include an animation action of the scaled-down window.

8. The method of claim 4, further comprising using a stereo sound effect associated with the location of the scaled-down window to alert the user that the second application requires attention.

9. The method of claim 4, further comprising using a vibration generator associated with the rendering effects to alert the user that the second application requires attention.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for using three-dimensional (3D),and other rendering effects within a graphical display environment on a mobile device to enable a new application to be displayed while a currently-running application window remains visible within a main viewing area of a screen, the method comprising:

receiving a request to display a new application in the graphical display environment;

in response to the request, generating a slanted view of the currently-running application window by slanting the currently-running application window through a 3D rendering effect and moving the currently-running application window towards an edge of the screen to make room for the new application; and

displaying the new application in a new display window next to the slanted view of the currently-running application window.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein if the new application completes running before the currently-running application completes, the method further comprises:

closing the new display window for the new application in the main viewing area of the screen; and

restoring the currently-running application window back to original size, shape and position in the main viewing area of a screen.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the new application is an interrupting application.

13. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for using three-dimensional (3D) and other rendering effects within a graphical display environment on a mobile device to enable a second application which is displayed in the background of the graphical display environment to receive attention from a user who is interacting with a first application, the method comprising:

displaying a window for the first application in a main viewing area of the graphical display environment;

displaying a scaled-down window for the second application in the graphical display environment; and

when the second application requires attention, applying a 3D rendering effect to the displayed scaled-down window for the second application to alert the user that the second application requires attention.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the scaled-down window for the second application in the graphical display environment is displayed next to the window for the first application in the main viewing area, wherein the scaled-down window is miniaturized.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the scaled-down window for the second application in the graphical display environment is displayed so that the scaled-down window overlaps the window for the first application in the main viewing area, wherein the scaled-down window is translucent.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the 3D rendering effect can include an animation action of the scaled-down window.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises using a stereo sound effect associated with the location of the scaled-down window to alert the user that the second application requires attention.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, further comprising using a vibration generator associated with the rendering effects to alert the user that the second application requires attention.

19. An apparatus that uses three-dimensional (3D) and other rendering effects within a graphical display environment on a mobile device to enable a new application to be displayed while a currently-running application window remains visible within a main viewing area of a screen, comprising:

a receiving mechanism configured to receive a request to display a new application in the graphical display environment;

a generation mechanism configured to generate a slanted view of the currently-running application window by slanting the currently-running application window through a 3D rendering effect and moving the currently-running application window towards an edge of the screen to make room for the new application in response to the request; and

a display mechanism configured to display the new application in a new display window next to the slanted view of the currently-running application window.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, further comprising:

a closing mechanism configured to close the new display window for the new application in the main viewing area of the screen; and

a restoring mechanism configured to restore the currently-running application window back to original size, shape and position in the main viewing area of a screen.

21. An apparatus that uses three-dimensional (3D) and other rendering effects within a graphical display environment on a mobile device to enable a second application which is displayed in the background of the graphical display environment to receive attention from a user who is interacting with a first application, comprising:

a display mechanism configured to display a window for the first application in a main viewing area of the graphical display environment;

wherein the display mechanism is additionally configured to display a scaled-down window for the second application in the graphical display environment; and

an applying mechanism configured to apply a 3D rendering effect to the displayed scaled-down window for the second application to alert the user that the second application requires attention.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the display mechanism is configured to display the scaled-down window for the second application in the graphical display environment next to the window for the first application in the main viewing area, wherein the scaled-down window is miniaturized.

23. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the display mechanism is configured to display the scaled-down window for the second application in the graphical display environment so that the scaled-down window overlaps the window for the first application in the main viewing area, wherein the scaled-down window is translucent.