Graphical user interface

• US 5,349,658 A
• Filed: 11/01/1991
• Issued: 09/20/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ark Interface II, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Ark Interface II, Inc.
• Inventors: O'Neill, Brian T., O'Rourke, Thomas C., Cook, Rodney C., Taner, Kuntay O., Joyner, Adam R., Synder, Steven P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Heckler, Thomas M.
• Application Number:
  US07/786,291
• Time in Patent Office: 1,054 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2, 395/155, 395/159, 395/164, 395/700, 395/157, 395/161
• US Class Current: 715/839
• 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

Abstract

A graphical user interface for a computer system that includes a memory for storing application programs and application files. The user interface permits the user to initiate execution of a selected application program, and produces a snapshot that graphically represents a screen produced during the execution of the application program. The snapshot may be displayed after execution of the application program is terminated, and provides a visual reference for the application file that was opened when the snapshot was taken. Snapshots and their corresponding application files may be organized in a project format, and new documents opened by an application program may be automatically placed in the opened project. An improved technique for initiating the execution of application programs is also described.

Claims

1. In a computer system including a display, means for executing an application program, and a memory for storing one or more application programs and other data, each application program including means for producing screens on the display during execution of the application program, the improvement comprising user interface means including:

(a) snapshot means for automatically recording in the memory a snapshot graphically representative of a screen produced by the application program during execution of the application program; and

(b) means for displaying the snapshot on the display after execution of the application program has terminated.

2. In a computer system including a display, means for executing an application program, and one or more memories for storing one or more application programs and other data, each application program including means for producing screens on the display during execution of the application program, the improvement comprising user interface means including:

(a) snapshot means for recording in the memory a reduced-scale image of one of the screens produced during execution of the application program; and

(b) means for displaying the snapshot on the display after execution of the application program has terminated.

3. In a computer system including a display, means for executing an application program, and one or more memories for storing one or more application programs and other data, each application program including means for producing screens on the display during execution of the application program, wherein the application program permits a user to open and close application files stored in the memory, the improvement comprising user interface means including:

(a) snapshot means for recording a snapshot prior to closing an application file, such that the snapshot represents a screen produced when the application file was open.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein the snapshot means includes means for storing each snapshot in the memory in association with the application file that was closed when the snapshot was produced.

5. The improvement of claim 4, wherein the user interface means includes means for creating a data structure in the memory, the data structure specifying a plurality of projects and, for each project, one or more associated application files and the snapshots associated with the associated application files.

6. The improvement of claim 5, wherein the interface means further comprises means for simultaneously displaying a plurality of snapshots associated with a single project.

7. The improvement of claim 4, wherein the interface means includes:

(a) means for allowing the user to select an image on the screen and

(b) means for initiating execution of an application program in response to selection by the user of a snapshot associated with the application file associated with the application program.

8. The improvement of claim 5, wherein the interface means includes:

(a) means for enabling a user to select a project and initiate execution of an application program associated with the project, and

(b) means for providing a measure of the period of time during which application programs associated with the project are executed.

9. In a computer system including means for executing an application program, a memory for storing one or more application programs and one or more application files, and a subdirectory file organizing system for locating application files in the memory, each application program permitting the user to create an application file and place it in a specified subdirectory, the improvement comprising user interface means including:

(a) means for creating a data structure specifying a plurality of projects and, for each project, one or more associated application files located in any subdirectory;

(b) means for enabling a user to select a project; and

(c) means for monitoring the execution of an application program to detect when a new application file is created and placed in a subdirectory, and means for associating the new application file with the selected project.

10. The improvement of claim 9, wherein the interface means includes means for providing a measure of the period of time during which a project is opened.

11. In a computer system including a display, means for enabling a user to control the position of a cursor on the display and to generate a selection signal, and a memory for storing application programs, an improved method for permitting a user to initiate execution of an application program, the improvement comprising user interface means including:

(a) means for grouping application programs by creating in the memory a table comprising a table entry for each of a plurality of application programs;

(b) means for designating an application program in the group of application programs as the default application program for the group;

(c) for said group, means for defining an area on the display which represents the plurality of application programs; and

(d) means for initiating execution of the default application program in response to the generation of a selection signal by the user while the cursor is anywhere within the area, thereby causing the default application program to be executed.