Grid Windows

• US 20100293501A1
• Filed: 05/18/2009
• Published: 11/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Burtner, Russ, Sands, Ian, Snavely, John, Russ, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US12/467,983
• Publication Number:
  US 20100293501A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed toward facilitating multi-user input on large format displays. In situations where multiple users may want to work individually on separate content, or individually on the same content, embodiments of the present invention provide an interface allowing a user or users to segment a display in a way to create isolated areas in which multiple users may manipulate content independently and concurrently.

Claims

1. A method for dividing a display window into a plurality of display windows that may be utilized independently and concurrently;

comprising

providing a computer-generated display window on which computer-enabled content may be utilized;

dividing the display window into a plurality of separate display windows;

wherein each separate display window may be utilized independently of other separate display windows and wherein each separate display window may be utilized concurrently with other separate display windows.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a computer-generated display window on which computer-enabled content may be utilized includes providing a multi-touch display.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein providing a computer-generated display window on which computer-enabled content may be utilized includes providing a large format display.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a first content in a first of the plurality of separate display windows, and displaying an instance of the first content in a second of the plurality of separate display windows, wherein the first content and the instance of the first content may be utilized independently of each other and wherein the first content and the instance of the first content may be utilized concurrently with each other.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a first content in a first of the plurality of separate display windows, and displaying a second content in a second of the plurality of separate display windows wherein the first and second content may be utilized independently of each other and wherein the first and second content may be utilized concurrently with each other.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a first application functionality in a first of the plurality of separate display windows, and displaying an instance of the first application functionality in a second of the plurality of separate display windows, wherein the first application functionality and the instance of the first application functionality may be utilized independently of each other and wherein the first application functionality and the instance of the first application functionality may be utilized concurrently with each other.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a first application functionality in a first of the plurality of separate display windows, and displaying a second application functionality in a second of the plurality of separate display windows wherein the first and second application functionality may be utilized independently of each other and wherein the first and second application functionality may be utilized concurrently with each other.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising binding the first content to the second content such that changes to the first content cause any corresponding changes to be made to the second content.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein dividing the display window into a plurality of separate display windows includes moving a divider from an edge of the display window to a desired location on the display window.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein moving the divider from an edge of the display window to a desired location on the display includes depositing the divider at the desired location causing a separation of the display window into multiple display windows where a first display window is created on one side of the deposited divider and wherein a second display window is created on an opposite side of the deposited divider, and wherein a size of each of the first and second display windows is defined by the location of the deposited divider on the display window and on a size of the display window.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising establishing a new edge for each of the first and second display windows at a position between the first and second display windows at the location of the deposited divider, wherein a second divider may be instantiated over the new edge, wherein said second divider may be moved to a second desired location in one of the first and second display windows for separating the first or second display windows into multiple display windows.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein moving the divider from an edge of the display window to a desired location on the display window and wherein depositing the divider at the desired location includes dragging the divider from the edge of the display window and dropping the divider at the desired location.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising resizing a given first or second display window by moving the deposited divider from the desired location to a different desired location.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein moving a divider from an edge of the display window to a desired location on the display window includes moving a horizontal divider from an upper or lower edge of the display window for separating the display window into upper and lower separate display windows.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein moving a divider from an edge of the display window to a desired location on the display window includes moving a vertical divider from a side edge of the display window for separating the display window into side-by-side separate display windows.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising collapsing a given display window by moving a divider over the given display window and depositing the divider such that the given display window is removed from display.

17. A computer-readable medium on which is stored computer-executable instructions, which when executed by a computer perform a method for dividing a display window into a plurality of display windows that may be utilized independently and concurrently;

comprising

providing a computer-generated display window on which computer-enabled content may be utilized;

dividing the display window into a plurality of separate display windows;

allowing a displaying of a first content in a first of the plurality of separate display windows, and allowing a displaying of a second content in a second of the plurality of separate display windows, wherein the first content and the second content may be utilized independently of each other, and wherein the first content and the second content may be utilized concurrently with each other.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the second content is a copy of the first content that may be utilized independently and concurrently in the second of the plurality of separate display windows.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein first and second content include first and second application functionality, respectively.

20. A method for dividing a display window into a plurality of display windows that may be utilized independently and concurrently;

comprising

providing a computer-generated display window on which computer-enabled content may be utilized;

dividing the display window into a plurality of separate display windows by moving a divider from an edge of the display window and by depositing the divider at a desired location on the display window;

establishing a new edge for each of a first and second display windows of the plurality of separate display windows at a position between the first and second display windows at the location of the deposited divider, wherein a second divider may be instantiated over the new edge, wherein said second divider may be moved to a second desired location in one of the first and second display windows for separating the first or second display windows into multiple display windows;

wherein each of the separate or multiple display windows may be utilized independently of other separate or multiple display windows and wherein each of the separate or multiple display windows may be utilized concurrently with other separate or multiple display windows.