Method and apparatus for generating and displaying multiple simultaneously-active windows
First Claim
1. In a computer display system having a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a display such that data is displayed on said display in a plurality of windows, a method for displaying said windows and operating upon said windows and said data in said windows by a user, comprising the steps of:
- generating and displaying each of said plurality of windows at a different window layer according to a window order, wherein a window at a higher window layer covers a window at a lower window layer to the extent that any of said windows overlap, wherein said step of generating and displaying each of said plurality of windows comprises the steps ofgenerating and displaying a first window at a first window layer, wherein said first window layer is a highest window layer;
generating and displaying a second window at a second window layer, wherein said first window has a portion that does not overlap with said second window;
both of said windows being simultaneously active; and
said user operating on both said first window and said second window without altering the window order of said plurality of windows.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The display system includes at least one central processing unit (CPU) which is coupled through appropriate input/output (I/O) circuitry to input devices, such as a keyboard, digital pad, mouse and/or trackball. The CPU is coupled to a hard disk drive for the storage of programs and data, and may also be coupled to a network through which the CPU may communicate with a variety of other system resources and devices. The CPU is further coupled to a display device such as a CRT or liquid crystal display, on which the present invention is displayed. The windows include defined areas having window features such as menu bars, command options, text, icons and/or button functions to be executed by the CPU. The help system includes an access window having topics, index and look for button functions for selection by a user. Through the use of the topics, index or look for functions, a help inquiry is defined which results in the CPU generating and displaying a presentation window on the display. Both the access and presentation windows "float" above all other layered windows being displayed regardless of the application currently being executed by the user. Both the access and presentation windows remain active and may be operated upon by the user, as does the top most window immediately below the access or presentation windows being displayed. Other layered windows under the top most application window are inactive, and must be brought to the "top" of the stack immediately below the access or presentation window to be operated upon.
202 Citations
42 Claims
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1. In a computer display system having a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a display such that data is displayed on said display in a plurality of windows, a method for displaying said windows and operating upon said windows and said data in said windows by a user, comprising the steps of:
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generating and displaying each of said plurality of windows at a different window layer according to a window order, wherein a window at a higher window layer covers a window at a lower window layer to the extent that any of said windows overlap, wherein said step of generating and displaying each of said plurality of windows comprises the steps of generating and displaying a first window at a first window layer, wherein said first window layer is a highest window layer; generating and displaying a second window at a second window layer, wherein said first window has a portion that does not overlap with said second window; both of said windows being simultaneously active; and said user operating on both said first window and said second window without altering the window order of said plurality of windows. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. In a computer display system having a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a display such that data is displayed on said display in a plurality of windows, a method for displaying said windows and operating upon said windows and said data in said windows by a user, comprising the steps of:
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said CPU generating and displaying a first window and a second window, said first window overlapping a portion of said second window on said display according to a window order; both of said first window and said second window being simultaneously active; said user operating on each of said first window and said second window and data disposed in each of said first window and said second window without altering the window order; said user selectively positioning each of said first window and said second window may on said display using a cursor control device coupled to said CPU; said CPU generating and displaying a third window; said second window being disposed over at least a portion of said third window, and wherein said first window and said second window are active and said third window is inactive; and wherein said user renders said third window active by placing a cursor on said display over a portion of said third window using said cursor control device, and provides a first signal to said CPU, said CPU upon receiving said first signal modifies the window order such that said third window is displayed between said first window and said second window, such that said first window and said third window are simultaneously active and said second window is inactive. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22)
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23. A computer display system having a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a display for displaying data, said display system comprising:
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user interface generation means coupled to said CPU for displaying data on said display in a plurality of windows including a first window and a second window, wherein said user interface generation means displays each of said plurality of windows at a different window layer according to a window order, wherein said first window is displayed at a first window layer and said second window is displayed at a second window layer, wherein the first window layer is higher in the window order than the second window layer, wherein said first window has a portion that does not overlap with said second window; both of said first window and said second window being simultaneously active; said user interface generation means being configured to maintain said window order unchanged when a user operates on either of said first window or said second window or on data disposed in said first window or said second window. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer display system having a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to a display for displaying data, said display system comprising:
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user interface generation means coupled to said CPU for displaying data on said display in a plurality of windows including a first window and a second window, wherein said user interface generation means displays each of said plurality of windows at a different window layer according to a window order, wherein said first. window is displayed at a first window layer and said second window is displayed at a second window layer; both of said first window and said second window being simultaneously active; said user interface generation means being configured to maintain said window order unchanged when a user operates on either of said first window or said second window or on data disposed in said first window or said second window; wherein said user interface generation means generates and displays a third window on said display, said third window being displayed at a third window layer, said third window being inactive; wherein said user renders said third window active by placing said cursor on said display over a portion of said third window using said cursor control means, and provides a first signal to said CPU, said CPU upon receiving said first signal modifies the window order such that said third window is displayed between said first window and said second window, such that said first window and said third window are simultaneously active and said second window is inactive. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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Specification