METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR RE-INVOKING DISPLAYS

• US 20090183111A1
• Filed: 01/16/2008
• Published: 07/16/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Original Assignee: Honeywell International Inc.
• Inventors: Adams, James
• Granted Patent: US 9,189,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/804
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method (600) for recovering a set of display screen windows (402, 404, 406, 408) in a multi-window display screen (304). The method involves retaining window information as stored window information (SWI). The SWI includes a first arrangement for a first set of display screen windows (DSWs) displayed on the multi-window display screen at a first time. Each of the DSWs has respective content (420, 422, 424, 426). The method also involves using the SWI for redisplaying the first set of display screen windows in the first arrangement on the multi-window display at a second time. The second time is after the first time and follows an event causing the first set of display screen windows to be removed from the multi-window display screen. The redisplayed DSWs contain at least a portion of the respective content.

Claims

1. A method for recovering a set of display screen windows in a multi-window display screen, comprising:

retaining window information comprising a first arrangement for a first set of display screen windows displayed on said multi-window display screen at a first time to provide stored window information, each display screen window containing respective content; and

using said stored window information for redisplaying said first set of display screen windows in said first arrangement on said multi-window display at a second time after said first time following an event causing said first set of display screen windows to be removed from said multi-window display screen, said redisplayed first set of display screen windows containing at least a portion of said respective content.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said content includes at least one of a still image, a video image, an animated image, text, a graph, a chart, and a graphical user interface.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said stored window information includes identification information for each said display screen window and attribute information for each said display screen window.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein said attribute information includes at least one of location information, size information, and behavioral characteristic information.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said behavioral characteristic information includes information indicating whether a display screen window is closable, minimizable, maximizable, draggable, or resizable.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein said stored window information includes identification and location information for said respective content contained in said first set of display screen windows.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein said content includes at least one graphical user interface and said method further comprising the step of retaining graphical user interface identification and location information for a plurality of graphical user interfaces displayed in said first set of display screen windows prior to said event causing said first set of display screen windows to be removed from said multi-window display screen.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of identifying a display screen window of said first set of display screen windows in which a graphical user interface of said plurality of graphical user interfaces was displayed using said graphical user interface identification and location information.

9. The method according to claim 8, further comprising the step of re-displaying said graphical user interface in a display screen window of a second set of display screen windows having at least one attribute based on attributes of said identified display screen window, wherein said attributes include at least one of a location, a size, and a behavioral characteristic.

10. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of selecting said plurality of graphical user interfaces to be graphical user interfaces including information operable for monitoring a location of interest.

11. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of selecting said plurality of graphical user interfaces to be graphical user interfaces including information operable for controlling an industrial process.

12. A control system, comprising:

a multi-window display screen;

a memory device configured for retaining window information comprising a first arrangement for a first set of display screen windows displayed on said multi-window display screen at a first time to provide stored window information, each display screen window containing respective content; and

a computing device configured for using said stored window information for redisplaying said first set of display screen windows in said first arrangement on said multi-window display at a second time after said first time following an event causing said first set of display screen windows to be removed from said multi-window display screen, said redisplayed first set of display screen windows containing at least a portion of said respective content.

13. The control system according to claim 12, wherein said content includes at least one of a still image, a video image, an animated image, text, a graph, a chart, and a graphical user interface.

14. The control system according to claim 12, wherein said stored window information includes identification information for each said display screen window and attribute information for each said display screen window.

15. The control system according to claim 14, wherein said attribute information includes at least one of location information, size information, and behavioral characteristic information.

16. The control system according to claim 15, wherein said behavioral characteristic information includes information indicating whether a display screen window is closable, minimizable, maximizable, draggable, or resizable.

17. The control system according to claim 12, wherein said stored window information includes identification and location information for said respective content contained in said first set of display screen windows.

18. The control system according to claim 12, wherein said content comprises at least one graphical user interface, and said memory device is further configured for retaining graphical user interface identification and location information for a plurality of graphical user interfaces displayed in said first set of display screen windows prior to said event causing said first set of display screen windows to be removed from said multi-window display screen.

19. The control system according to claim 18, wherein said computing device is further configured for identifying a display screen window of said first set of display screen windows in which a graphical user interface of said plurality of graphical user interfaces was displayed using said graphical user interface identification and location information.

20. The control system according to claim 19, wherein said computing device is further configured for re-displaying said graphical user interface in a display screen window of a second set of display screen windows having attributes that are the same as attributes of said identified display screen window, wherein said attributes include at least one of a location, a size, and a behavioral characteristic.