OVERFLOW STACK USER INTERFACE

• US 20080307303A1
• Filed: 06/08/2007
• Published: 12/11/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Louch, John O., Peyton, Eric Steven, Bumgarner, Timothy Wayne, Hynes, Christopher
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,997 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/273
• 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

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing an overflow stack. An overflow stack can be generated based upon adjustments to a group display area and based upon application of one or more display criterion. An overflow stack can include representation of any system objects that can not be displayed in an adjusted group display area based upon the one or more display criterion.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

associating graphical representations of system objects in a group;

displaying the group in a group display area;

adjusting the group display area;

determining if the associated graphical representations of system objects can be displayed in the adjusted group display area based upon one or more display criterion; and

representing two or more of the associated graphical representations of system objects in a stack item if the associated graphical representations of system objects can not be displayed in the adjusted group display area based upon the one or more display criterion.

2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising;

prioritizing the system objects based upon a prioritization of the system objects;

wherein the two or more associated graphical representations of system objects represented in a stack item comprise system objects prioritized lowest based on the prioritization of the system objects.

3. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the prioritization of the system object is based upon user input.

4. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the prioritization of the system objects is based upon a date associated with the system objects.

5. The computer implemented method of claim 2, wherein the prioritization of the system objects is based upon an application associated with each of the system objects.

6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

adjusting an aspect ratio associated with each of the graphical representations of system objects based upon adjusting the group display area.

7. The computer implemented method of claim 6, wherein the one or more display criterion comprise a minimum aspect ratio associated with the graphical representations of system objected.

8. The computer implemented method of claim 7, wherein the one or more display criterion comprise a prioritization associated with the associated system objects.

9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising receiving user input requesting association of the graphical representations of system objects, wherein associating graphical representations of system objects in a group is based upon the user input.

10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising determining that a display environment associated with the group display area has been terminated;

displaying the system objects associated with the group in a new stack item in a second display environment.

11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the stack item comprises an overflow stack item operable to provide a stack representation of those system object graphical representations that do not fit within the adjusted group display area.

12. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising removing the stack item if the associated graphical representations of system objects can be displayed in the adjusted group display area according to one or more display criterion.

13. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising scaling the graphical representations of system objects based upon the one or more display criterion.

14. A computer-readable medium storing instructions that are executable by a processing device, and upon such execution cause the processing device to generate a graphical user interface on a display device and facilitate the processes comprising:

associating graphical representations of system objects in a group;

displaying the graphical representations of system objects in a group display area;

adjusting the group display area based upon user input;

determining if the associated graphical representations of system objects can be displayed in the adjusted group display area based upon one or more display criterion; and

representing two or more of the associated graphical representations of system objects in a stack item if the associated graphical representations of system objects can not be displayed in the adjusted group display area according to the one or more display criterion.

15. The computer readable media of claim 14, wherein the instructions further facilitate the processes comprising:

prioritizing the system objects based upon a prioritization of the system objects;

wherein the two or more associated graphical representations of system objects represented in a stack item comprise system objects prioritized lowest based on the prioritization of the system objects.

16. The computer readable media of claim 14, wherein the instructions further facilitate the processes comprising:

adjusting an aspect ratio associated with each of the graphical representations of system objects based upon adjusting the group display area.

17. The computer readable media of claim 16, wherein the one or more display criterion comprise a minimum aspect ratio associated with the graphical representations of system objected.

18. The computer readable media of claim 17, wherein the one or more display criterion comprise a prioritization associated with the associated system objects.

19. The computer readable media of claim 14, wherein the instructions further facilitate the processes comprising:

receiving user input requesting association of the graphical representations of system objects, wherein associating graphical representations of system objects in a group is based upon the user input.

20. The computer readable media claim 14, wherein the instructions further facilitate the processes comprising:

removing the stack item if the associated graphical representations of system objects can be displayed in the adjusted group display area according to one or more display criterion.

21. A computer-implemented method, comprising:

presenting graphical representations of system objects in a presentation environment;

adjusting the presentation environment;

determining if the graphical representations of the system objects can be displayed in the adjusted presentation environment based on one or more display criterion; and

representing two or more of the graphical representations of system objects in a stack item if each of the graphical representations of system objects can not be displayed in the adjusted presentation environment based on the one or more display criterion.

22. The computer implemented method of claim 21, further comprising:

prioritizing the system objects based upon a prioritization of the system objects;

wherein the two or more graphical representations of system objects represented in a stack item comprise system objects prioritized lowest based on the prioritization of the system objects.

23. The computer implemented method of claim 21, further comprising:

adjusting an aspect ratio associated with each of the graphical representations of system objects based upon adjusting the group display area.

24. The computer implemented method of claim 21, further comprising:

adjusting a spacing between each of the graphical representations of system objects based upon adjusting the group display area.

25. The computer implemented method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving user input requesting association of the graphical representations of system objects into a group; and

associating graphical representations of system objects into the group based upon the user input.