SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MANAGEMENT OF CONTROLS IN A GRAPHICAL USER INTERFACE
First Claim
1. A method for providing graphical controls in a GUI of a computer system, the method comprising:
- receiving a command to create and display a window in the GUI on a display device, the window including one or more controls, each control operative to perform a function of an application in response to being selected by a user;
for each of the one or more controls;
determining an associated scope for the control that indicates an extent of shared use of the control within the GUI;
determining whether a different instance of the control already exists within the GUI and is within the scope for the control, the different instance of the control having stored resources;
in response to determining that the different instance of the control exists within the scope for the control, referencing the resources of the different instance of the control to be shared for use with the control and not creating new resources for the control; and
in response to determining that no different instance of the control exists within the scope for the control, creating and storing new resources for the control; and
causing a display of the one or more controls in the window that is displayed in the GUI.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Management of controls in a graphical user interface (GUI) of a computer system. In one aspect, a command is received to create and display a window in the GUI, the window including one or more controls, each control operative to perform a function of an application in response to selection. An associated scope for each control is determined and indicates an extent of shared use of the control within the GUI. It is determined if a different instance of the control already exists within the scope for the control. If so, resources of the different instance are referenced to be shared for use with the control and new resources are not created for the control. If no different instance exists within the scope, new resources for the control are created and stored. The window and the controls in the GUI are displayed.
82 Citations
34 Claims
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1. A method for providing graphical controls in a GUI of a computer system, the method comprising:
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receiving a command to create and display a window in the GUI on a display device, the window including one or more controls, each control operative to perform a function of an application in response to being selected by a user; for each of the one or more controls; determining an associated scope for the control that indicates an extent of shared use of the control within the GUI; determining whether a different instance of the control already exists within the GUI and is within the scope for the control, the different instance of the control having stored resources; in response to determining that the different instance of the control exists within the scope for the control, referencing the resources of the different instance of the control to be shared for use with the control and not creating new resources for the control; and in response to determining that no different instance of the control exists within the scope for the control, creating and storing new resources for the control; and causing a display of the one or more controls in the window that is displayed in the GUI. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium including program instructions to be implemented by a computer and for providing graphical controls in a GUI of a computer system, the program instructions for:
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receiving a command to create and display a window in the GUI on a display device, the window including one or more controls, each control operative to perform a function of an application in response to being selected by a user; for each of the one or more controls; determining an associated scope for the control that indicates an extent of shared use of the control within the GUI; determining whether a different instance of the control already exists within the GUI and is within the scope for the control, the different instance of the control having stored resources; in response to determining that the different instance of the control exists within the scope for the control, referencing the resources of the different instance of the control to be shared for use with the control; and in response to determining that no different instance of the control exists within the scope for the control, creating and storing new resources for the control; and causing a display of the one or more controls in the window that is displayed in the GUI. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A system for providing graphical controls in a GUI of a computer system, the system comprising:
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one or more storage devices; and a processor in communication with the storage devices, the processor receiving a command to create and display a window in the GUI on a display device, the window including one or more controls, each control operative to perform a function of an application in response to being selected by a user, wherein for each of the one or more controls, the processor; determines an associated scope for the control that indicates an extent of shared use of the control within the GUI, determines whether a different instance of the control already exists within the GUI and is within the scope for the control, the different instance of the control having stored resources on the one or more storage devices, in response to determining that the different instance of the control exists within the scope for the control, references the resources of the different instance of the control to be shared for use with the control, and in response to determining that no different instance of the control exists within the scope for the control, creates and stores new resources for the control on the one or more storage devices, and wherein the processor causes a display of the one or more controls in the window that is displayed in the GUI on the display device. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification