ARRANGING DISPLAY AREAS UTILIZING ENHANCED WINDOW STATES

• US 20090199128A1
• Filed: 02/01/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Brugiolo, Ivan, Hoefnagels, Stepan, Sadek, Mohamed A.M., Matthews, David A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,356,258 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/799
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

Computer-readable media, computerized methods, and user interfaces (UIs) for manipulating display areas on a GUI workspace by transitioning the display areas from an original state to one of a set of enhanced window states are provided. Initially, an indication to resize a display area is received at an operating system, which consequently invokes an appropriate window state. The indication may include capturing an edge of the display area and vertically dragging the edge to a dock-target region, thereby invoking a vertically-maximized state. Accordingly, configuration settings of the vertically-maximized state are applied such that the display area is stretched to approximately the screen height. In another instance, the indication may include capturing the display area and dragging a display area into a dock-target region, thereby invoking a semi-maximized state. Configuration settings of the semi-maximized state are applied, thus, extending the display area to approximately cover a predefined GUI workspace region.

Claims

1. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon that, when executed, perform a method for arranging a display area on a graphical user interface (GUI) workspace having a screen height and a screen width, the method comprising:

receiving one or more indications to resize the display area being presented on the GUI workspace, wherein the display area is characterized by a window height and a window width, and wherein the one or more indications select a vertically-maximized state for resizing the display area;

applying configuration settings related to the vertically-maximized state to the display area, wherein the configuration settings of the vertically-maximized state include a vertical dimension and a horizontal dimension, and wherein the vertical dimension corresponds to approximately the screen height and the horizontal dimension is less than the screen width; and

automatically transitioning the display area to the vertically-maximized state such that the window height is rendered on the GUI workspace according to the vertical dimension of the vertically-maximized state.

2. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the GUI workspace includes actuation devices for receiving the one or more indications to resize the display area thereby facilitating selection of one the set of window states, and wherein the actuation devices mapped to the vertically-maximized state are hidden.

3. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 2, wherein receiving the one or more indications to a resize the display area being presented on the GUI workspace comprises detecting a selection by a cursor tool at a hidden actuation device proximate to an edge of the display area.

4. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein receiving one or more indications to resize the display area being presented on the GUI workspace comprises:

receiving an indication of capturing an edge of the display area with a cursor tool; and

detecting a vertical movement of the cursor tool into a dock-target region.

5. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein receiving one or more indications to resize the display area being presented on the GUI workspace comprises receiving a specific keystroke sequence configured to invoke a transition to one of the set of window states.

6. The one or more computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein automatically transitioning the display area to the vertically-maximized state comprises:

determining the window width of the display area and conforming the horizontal dimension thereto; and

rendering the display area on the GUI workspace according to the horizontal dimension of the vertically-maximized state.

7. A computerized method for transitioning a display area between a semi-maximized state and a restored state utilizing one or more dock-target regions on a graphical user interface (GUI) workspace having a screen height, measured between horizontal edges of the GUI workspace, and a screen width measured between vertical edges of the GUI workspace, the method comprising:

tracking movements of a cursor tool within the GUI workspace, the GUI workspace presenting at least one display area;

receiving an indication of capturing the at least one display area with the cursor tool, the at least one display area residing in an original state;

constructing the one or more dock-target regions adjacent to at least one of the horizontal edges or the vertical edges of the GUI workspace, wherein each of the one or more dock-target regions are associated with one of a set of window states;

determining whether the cursor tool entered within the one or more dock-target regions utilizing the tracked movements while the at least one display area is captured; and

incident to determining that the cursor tool entered within the one or more dock-target regions, automatically transitioning the at least one display area from the original state to a triggered state, wherein the triggered state corresponds to one of the set of window states that is associated with the one or more entered dock-target regions.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein automatically transitioning the at least one display area from the original state to a triggered state comprises:

determining configuration settings mapped to the one or more entered dock-target regions, wherein each of the set of window states having corresponding configuration settings;

applying the mapped configuration settings to the at least one display area; and

at least temporarily storing the at least one display area consistent with the triggered state.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the set of window states includes a semi-maximized state, the semi-maximized state having configuration settings comprising:

a vertical dimension corresponding to the screen height of the GUI workspace screen parameters; and

a horizontal dimension corresponding to a ratio of the screen width of the GUI workspace screen parameters.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein constructing one or more dock-target regions adjacent to at least one of the horizontal edges or the vertical edges of the GUI workspace comprises:

constructing an upper dock-target region on a top edge of the horizontal edges of the GUI workspace; and

constructing a lower dock-target region on a bottom edge of the horizontal edges of the GUI workspace,

wherein, incident to determining the cursor tool entered within the upper dock-target region or the lower dock-target region, automatically transitioning the at least one display area from the original state to a maximized state, the maximized state having configuration settings comprising;

(1) a vertical dimension corresponding to the screen height of the GUI workspace screen parameters; and

(2) a horizontal dimension corresponding to the screen width of the GUI workspace screen parameters.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising translating the at least one captured display area according to movement of the cursor tool, wherein the at least one captured display area includes an edge defined by a window height and a window width, and wherein the edge is visible on the GUI workspace during the translation of the at least one captured display area.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising, incident to automatically transitioning the at least one display area from the original state to a triggered window state, temporarily adjusting the window height to the vertical dimension and the window width to the horizontal dimension of the semi-maximized state.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

determining whether the cursor tool exited the one or more dock-target regions utilizing the tracked movement; and

incident to determining the cursor tool exited the one or more dock-target regions, automatically restoring the at least one display area from the triggered state to the original state.

14. The method of claim 7, wherein constructing one or more dock-target regions adjacent to at least one of the horizontal edges or the vertical edges of the GUI workspace comprises:

constructing a right dock-target region on a right edge of the vertical edges of the GUI workspace; and

constructing a left dock-target region on a left edge of the vertical edges of the GUI workspace,

wherein, incident to determining the cursor tool entered within the right dock-target region or the left dock-target region, automatically transitioning the at least one display area from the original state to a semi-maximized state.

15. The method of claim 7, further comprising presenting the GUI workspace on a plurality of display devices that are managed according to spatial-navigation heuristics, wherein management comprises:

construction one or more dock-target regions adjacent to at least one of the horizontal edges and the vertical edges of the plurality of display devices;

identifying common edges of the plurality of display devices that divide the GUI workspace; and

disabling the one or more dock-target regions adjacent to the identified common edges facilitating translation of the at least one display area between the plurality of display devices.

16. The method of claim 8, further comprising identifying a type of input device providing the indication of capturing the at least one display area, wherein a screen area within the one or more dock-target regions is established according to the identified type of input device.

17. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

incident to determining the cursor tool entered within the one or more dock-target regions, interacting with an application presenting on the at least one display area to determine a set of allowed window sizes;

comparing the set of allowed window sizes against the configuration settings corresponding to the triggered state; and

if the configuration settings conflict with the set of allowed window sizes, automatically transitioning the at least one display area to one of the set of allowed window sizes.

18. One or more computer-readable media having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon for presenting on one or more display devices a user interface configured to produce features for arranging a display area on a graphical user interface (GUI) workspace by dragging the display area utilizing a cursor tool, the user interface comprising:

the GUI workspace having horizontal edges and vertical edges, wherein screen parameters are derived from the GUI workspace which include a screen height, measured between the horizontal edges, and a screen width measured between the vertical edges, the vertical edges comprising a left edge and a right edge, the horizontal edges comprising a top edge and a bottom edge;

an upper dock-target region that is defined by the top edge and a first trigger line in substantial parallel-spaced relation to the top edge;

a lower dock-target region that is defined by the bottom edge and a second trigger line in substantial parallel-spaced relation to the bottom edge;

a right dock-target region that is defined by the right edge and third trigger line in substantial parallel-spaced relation to the right edge;

a left dock-target region that is defined by the left edge and fourth trigger line in substantial parallel-spaced relation to the left edge; and

the display area presented on the GUI workspace in an original state,

wherein screen area within the upper dock-target region and the lower dock-target region is mapped to configuration settings of a maximized state, and

wherein screen area within the right dock-target region and the left dock-target region is mapped to configuration settings of a semi-maximized state.

19. The graphical user interface of claim 18, wherein, incident to dragging the display area, if the cursor tool traverses the first trigger line or the second trigger line, the display area is automatically adjusted between the maximized state and a restored state, the maximized state having configuration settings including a vertical dimension corresponding the screen height, and a horizontal dimension corresponding to the screen width, the restored state being sized according to the original state.

20. The graphical user interface of claim 18, wherein, incident to dragging the display area, if the cursor tool traverses the third trigger line or the fourth trigger line, the display area is automatically adjusted between the semi-maximized state and a restored state, the semi-maximized state having configuration settings including a vertical dimension corresponding the screen height, and a horizontal dimension corresponding to a ratio of the screen width, the restored state being sized according to the original state.