Computer user interface with window title bar icons

• US 5,140,678 A
• Filed: 05/04/1990
• Issued: 08/18/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1990
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Torres, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): CLARK, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US07/519,189
• Time in Patent Office: 837 Days
• Field of Search: 395/159, 395/157, 395/156, 395/158, 395/160
• US Class Current: 715/777
• 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 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor

Abstract

Disclosed is a computer system user interface that includes a window frame with a window title bar icon. The title bar icon replaces the conventional window title bar and it increases the usable client area of the window without decreasing the number of functions available to the user.

Claims

1. A method of operating a computer system that includes a display screen, which comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

constructing a first window frame to form a first window on the screen;

attaching a first window icon to said first window frame, said first window icon identifying said first window and being user selectable to perform operations associated with said first window; and

,

displaying data in said first window frame.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of:

displaying a title block adjacent to said window icon in response to user interaction with said first window icon.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of:

displaying a context menu adjacent to said window icon in response to user interaction with said first window icon.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, including the step of:

repositioning said window icon at a user selected location on said window frame.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, including the steps of:

constructing a second window frame to form a second window on said screen, said second window frame at least partially overlaying said first window frame and obscuring the data displayed in the overlain portion of said first window frame;

attaching a second window icon to said second window frame, said second window icon identifying said second window and being user selectable to perform operations associated with said second window;

displaying data in said second window frame; and

,

arranging said window icons such that both of said window icons are visible at the same time on said screen.

6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein said second window frame substantially completely overlies said first window frame.

7. The method as claimed in claim 5, including the steps of:

transposing the positions of said first and second window frames in response to user interaction with said first window icon whereby said first window frame at least partially overlies said second window frame.

8. A method of operating a computer system that includes a display screen, which comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

displaying a plurality of icons on said display screen;

constructing a first window frame to form a first window on said screen in response to user interaction with one of said icons;

attaching a first window icon to said first window frame, said first window icon identifying said first window and being user selectable to perform operations associated with said first window; and

displaying data in said first window frame.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, including the step of repositioning said first window icon at a user selected location on said first window frame.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, including the steps of:

constructing a second window frame to form a second window on said screen in response to user interaction with a second icon, said second window frame at least partially overlying the first window frame and obscuring the data displayed in the overlain portion of said first window;

attaching a second window icon to said second window frame, said second window icon identifying said second window and being user selectable to perform operations associated with said second window;

displaying data in said second window frame; and

,

arranging said window icons such that both of said window icons are visible on said screen at the same time.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, including the steps of:

transposing the positions of said first and second window frames in response to user interaction with said first window icon whereby said first window frame at least partially overlies said second window frame.

12. A method of operating a computer system that includes a display screen, which comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

displaying a plurality of windows on said screen, each of said windows including a frame; and

,

attaching a window icon to each of said frames, each said window icon identifying a corresponding window and being user selectable to perform operations associated with the corresponding window.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, including the steps of:

stacking said windows on top of each other; and

,

arranging said window icons such that all of said window icons are visible on said display screen at the same time.

14. A method of operating a computer system having a display screen, which comprises the computer-implemented steps of:

constructing a window frame on the screen in response to a user selection of an application;

attaching a tab to said window frame; and

,

displaying in said tab a window icon representing said application, said window icon being user selectable to perform operations associated with the application.

15. The method as claimed in claim 14, including the step of:

displaying a user selected icon in said tab along with said window icon.

16. The method claimed in claim 14, including the step of displaying a plurality of application windows on said screen, each of said windows including a frame with a tab attached thereto, and each tab having displayed therein a window icon.

17. The method as claimed in claim 16, including the step of:

adding to selected tabs a user selected icon.

18. The method as claimed in claim 17, including the step of:

grouping windows having said user selected icon.

19. In a method of presenting data to a computer system user that includes a window including a window frame with data displayed within said window frame, the computer-implemented improvement which comprises:

attaching a window icon to said window frame, said window icon identifying said window and being user selectable to perform operations associated with said window.