Exposing and hiding a title bar behind its window using a visual cue

• US 5,473,745 A
• Filed: 12/14/1994
• Issued: 12/05/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 12/14/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Werner, Jon H., Berry, Richard E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/355,872
• Time in Patent Office: 356 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-161, 395/152, 395/154, 395/139, 345/117-120, 345/122, 345/125, 345/131
• US Class Current: 715/788
• 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 technique for the display and manipulation of windows resembling real-world objects in an object-oriented graphical user interface displays windows without visible borders, title bars, scroll bars and various graphical symbols that surround the information in conventional windows. Window components are provided to support window manipulation functions such as MOVE, SIZE and CLOSE. A slide-up title bar area with a close-box is generally kept hidden behind the window until dragged-up by the user when desired.

Claims

1. A method for displaying a graphical user interface on a display device coupled to a data processing system, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying a window on said display device coupled to said data processing system, said window operable for enclosing a programmed object displayed on said display device coupled to said data processing system;

displaying a visual cue on said display device coupled to said data processing system, said visual cue accompanying said window displayed on said display device, said visual cue operable for displaying on said display device a previously hidden title bar associated with said window on said display device;

exposing said previously hidden title bar in response to a received input comprising dragging action on said visual cue with an input device coupled to said data processing system; and

hiding said exposed title bar behind said window in response to a received input comprising dragging on said visual cue with said input device coupled to said data processing system.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said visual cue is a shaded region near an edge of said window displayed on said display device coupled to said data processing system.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying on said display device a close-box in said title bar.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said input device is a mouse and said received input comprising a dragging action on said visual cue with an input device coupled to said data processing system comprises placing a displayed pointer over said visual cue to drag said previously hidden title bar from behind said window displayed on said display device.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said received input comprising a dragging action on said visual cue with an input device coupled to said data processing system further comprises activating a cursor control device.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said title bar is editable.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of resizing said window in response to a received input comprising a positioning of an input device pointer over a shaded portion adjacent an edge of said window and using said pointer to move said edge of said window.

8. A data processing computer comprising a processor, a memory device, and an input device couple via a bus to a display device, said data processing computer further comprising:

means for displaying a window on said display device coupled to said data processing computer; and

means for displaying a visual cue on said display device coupled to said data processing computer, said displayed visual cue associated with said displayed window, said displayed visual cue operable for displaying a previously hidden title bar on said display device coupled to said data processing computer;

wherein said displaying means is operable in response to a received input comprising a dragging action on said visual cue with a cursor control device coupled to said data processing computer, said dragging action operating to drag said hidden title bar from behind said window.

9. The computer as recited in claim 8, wherein said visual cue is a shaded region near an edge of said window displayed on said display device coupled to said data processing computer.

10. The computer as recited in claim 8, wherein said title bar is editable and includes a close-box displayed on said display device coupled to said data processing computer.

11. The computer as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

means operable for repositioning said window upon receipt of an input comprising a placement of a mouse pointer over a whitespace within said window and a dragging of said mouse pointer to a new position on a screen of said display device.

12. The computer as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

means operable for repositioning said window upon receipt of an input comprising a placement of a mouse pointer over said visual cue and a dragging of said mouse pointer to a new position on a screen of said display device.

13. The computer as recited in claim 8, further comprising:

means for displaying said title bar upon receipt of an input directed at said visual cue.