Window management system with a hierarchical iconic array and miniature windows
First Claim
1. A control container for performing window management operations in a computer system having a display and locator input device, said container comprising:
- means for arranging a plurality of icons in a displayed hierarchical array, each displayed icon representing a separate product window, wherein said array contains a first icon;
means for receiving a window management operation on said first icon from said locator input device; and
first means for linking said first icon to said product window to enable transmission of said window management operation to said product window.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A user interface system is used for accessing and performing window management operations. A control window containing icons linked to product windows. Each icon in the control window is also capable of projecting a miniature window dynamically linked in terms of content and parameters to the actual information represented by the icon. Window management operations, such as moving, sizing, restoring, and closing, performed on either the iconic or miniature window representations in the control window are transmitted directly to the contents of the represented windows and implemented, whether these windows are opened or closed at the time that the operations are performed.
210 Citations
17 Claims
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1. A control container for performing window management operations in a computer system having a display and locator input device, said container comprising:
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means for arranging a plurality of icons in a displayed hierarchical array, each displayed icon representing a separate product window, wherein said array contains a first icon; means for receiving a window management operation on said first icon from said locator input device; and first means for linking said first icon to said product window to enable transmission of said window management operation to said product window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for controlling a computer system having a display and locator input means associated with the display, comprising the steps of:
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creating and displaying a control container on said display; arranging a plurality of icons in a displayed hierarchical array, each displayed icon representing a separate product window, wherein said array contains a first icon; receiving a window management operation on said first icon from said locator input means; and linking said first icon to said product window to enable transmission of said window management operations to said product window. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification