Apparatus and methods for ensuring visibility of display window

• US 20080010608A1
• Filed: 07/05/2006
• Published: 01/10/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Adams, James S.
• Application Number:
  US11/481,362
• Publication Number:
  US 20080010608A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/1454 involving copying of the display data of a local workstation or window to a remote workstation or window so that an actual copy of the data is displayed simultaneously on two or more displays, e.g. teledisplay
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/542 Event management; Broadcasting; Multicasting; Notifications
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for controlling displays in a multi-display environment are disclosed. The exemplary system may include a module for intercepting display creations from the display system. A module makes a determination whether the intercepted display is a dialog display and, if so, promotes the display status of that display to an always-on-top status, thereby ensuring the display'"'"'s visibility.

Claims

1. A method of controlling displays in a multi-display environment, comprising the steps of:

a) creating a display in response to a request inputted to the display system;

b) determining a category of the requested display;

c) finding a match between the category of the requested display and an entry in a configuration file, the configuration file defining display characteristics including predetermined display windows status specified for the category of the requested display;

d) when a match is determined, promoting the display status associated with the category of display to an always-on-top status.

2. A method of controlling displays according to claim 1, wherein the step of finding a match comprises the steps of:

a) searching the configuration file to obtain a match parameter;

b) comparing the match parameter to the category of the requested display;

c) when a match is found,

i) proceeding to step d) of claim 1;

otherwise

ii) repeating step a) of claim 2 until the entire configuration file is searched.

3. A method of controlling displays according to claim 1, wherein the step of creating an application display comprises the steps of:

a) decoding the request inputted;

b) fetching a display file corresponding to the requested input; and

c) obtaining the data required by the display file to create the application display.

4. A method of controlling displays according to claim 1, wherein the configuration file defines display characteristics including predetermined display windows status specified for the category of the requested display of pop-up and dialog displays.

5. A method of controlling displays according to claim 1, wherein the multi-display environment is a display system for a plant control network.

6. A method of controlling displays in a multi-display environment, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving displays created in response to a request display inputted to a display system;

b) determining whether the requested display is a dialog display;

c) when the requested display is determined to be a dialog display, promoting the display status associated with that requested display to an always-on-top status.

7. A method of controlling displays of claim 6, wherein the multi-display environment is a display system for a plant control network.

8. A method of controlling displays of claim 6, wherein the dialog display is any display requesting user interaction.

9. A method of controlling displays of claim 6, wherein the step of receiving displays created in response to a request display inputted to a display system involves intercepting the displays.

10. A device for controlling displays in a multi-display environment, comprising:

a module for creating display in response to a request inputted to the display system;

a module for determining a category of the requested display;

a module for finding a match between the category of the requested display and an entry in a configuration file, the configuration file defining display characteristic including predetermined display windows status specified for the category of the requested display;

a module for promoting the display status associated with the category of display to an always-on-top status when a match is determined.

11. A device for controlling displays according to claim 10, wherein the module for finding a match further comprises:

a module for searching the configuration file to obtain a match parameter;

a module for comparing the match parameter to the category of the requested display;

c) when a match is found,

i) proceeding to the module for promoting the display status of claim 11;

otherwise

ii) repeating a module for searching of claim 11 until the entire configuration file is searched.

12. A device for controlling displays according to claim 10, wherein the module for creating an application display further comprises:

a module for decoding the request inputted;

a module for fetching a display file corresponding to the requested input; and

a module for obtaining the data required by the display file to create the application display.

13. A device for controlling displays according to claim 10, wherein the configuration file defining display characteristic includes predetermined display windows status specified for the category of the requested display of pop-up and dialog displays.

14. A device for controlling displays according to claim 10, wherein the multi-display environment is a display system for a plant control network.