Multiple window display system having indirectly addressable windows arranged in an ordered list
First Claim
1. A multiple window display system comprising:
- a display device capable of displaying a plurality of display areas, each display area representing data;
at least one presentation buffer for storing data corresponding to at least two windows, each window corresponding to at least one display area, each window having a unique window location in the presentation buffer;
an ordered list memory, said ordered list memory comprising a plurality of locations having sequentially numbered addresses, each address being a window identity code for identifying windows, the order of the window identity codes representing window priorities ranging from lower priority to higher priority;
a screen ownership memory having memory locations, each memory location corresponding to a display area, each memory location containing screen ownership data, the screen ownership data in each memory location comprising a single window identity code; and
processor means for(a) first reading the window identity code representing the lower priority window and storing that window identity code in locations of the screen ownership memory corresponding to each display area corresponding to the lower priority window; and
then(b) reading the window identity code representing the higher priority window and storing that window identity code in locations of the screen ownership memory corresponding to each display area corresponding to the higher priority window;
characterized in that;
a first location of the ordered list memory contains location data representing the location of a first window in the presentation buffer.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A multiple window display system includes a display device and a screen ownership area pointing to the identity of the window which is to contribute the data for each display area of the display device. An ordered list is maintained of the active windows in the priority order thereof. Means are provided to regenerate the screen ownership area from the ordered list, on each change made to the list, in terms of list position per device display area, by overwriting, progressing through the list in order of increasingly significantly priority order, the list indicating, in each position thereof, the identity of the window having the respective priority. The list contains the addresses of the windows in storage and the type thereof. The screen ownership area is reset to the lowest potential priority list position value and is overwritten.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A multiple window display system comprising:
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a display device capable of displaying a plurality of display areas, each display area representing data; at least one presentation buffer for storing data corresponding to at least two windows, each window corresponding to at least one display area, each window having a unique window location in the presentation buffer; an ordered list memory, said ordered list memory comprising a plurality of locations having sequentially numbered addresses, each address being a window identity code for identifying windows, the order of the window identity codes representing window priorities ranging from lower priority to higher priority; a screen ownership memory having memory locations, each memory location corresponding to a display area, each memory location containing screen ownership data, the screen ownership data in each memory location comprising a single window identity code; and processor means for (a) first reading the window identity code representing the lower priority window and storing that window identity code in locations of the screen ownership memory corresponding to each display area corresponding to the lower priority window; and
then(b) reading the window identity code representing the higher priority window and storing that window identity code in locations of the screen ownership memory corresponding to each display area corresponding to the higher priority window; characterized in that; a first location of the ordered list memory contains location data representing the location of a first window in the presentation buffer. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A multiple window display system comprising:
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a display device capable of displaying a plurality of display areas, each display area representing data; at least one presentation buffer for storing data corresponding to at least first and second windows, each window corresponding to at least one display area, each window having a size and an origin in the presentation buffer; an ordered list memory, said ordered list memory having at least a first list memory position and a second list memory position, the first list memory position containing information which specifies (i) the size and origin of the first window in the presentation buffer, and (ii) the display areas corresponding to the first window, the second list memory position containing information which specifies (i) the size and origin of the second window in the presentation buffer, and (ii) the display areas corresponding to the second window, the second window having a lower priority than the first window; a screen ownership memory having memory locations, each screen ownership memory location corresponding to a display area, each screen ownership memory location containing screen ownership data, the screen ownership data in each screen ownership memory location comprising an identification of a memory position within the ordered list memory; and processor means for (a) first reading the information contained at the second list memory position to obtain the display areas corresponding to the second window, and storing an identification of the second list memory position in locations of the screen ownership memory corresponding to each display area corresponding to the second window; and
then(b) reading the information contained at the first list memory position to obtain the display areas corresponding to the first window, and storing an identification of the first list memory position in locations of the screen ownership memory corresponding to each display area corresponding to the first window. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification