System for presenting alternate views of a computer window environment
First Claim
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1. A computer-based system for presenting an alternate view of computer windows on a display device, comprising:
- a display device for presenting computer windows which represent programs operating on a computer, each of the computer windows having a plurality of edges;
a memory for storing position and size information of the computer windows;
an input device for receiving commands from a user relating to presentation and manipulation of the computer windows; and
a processor coupled to the memory, the display device, and the input device, the processor comprising;
means for receiving from the input device a command to present an alternate view of the computer windows;
display means for presenting on the display device the alternate view of the computer windows upon receiving the command from the input device, the alternate view comprising a plurality of indicators representing corresponding edges of the computer windows displayed in relative position as if the user were looking at the corresponding edges of the computer windows; and
means for allowing the user to manipulate the indicators using the input device and for altering a position of the computer windows as determined by the user'"'"'s manipulation of the computer windows.
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Abstract
A system for presenting an alternate view of computer windows on a display device. Upon selection by a user, the system presents the alternate view, which may include a top, side, or bottom view of the windows. These alternate views are indicators, such as title bars, corresponding to the windows and presented in relative position to another as if the user were looking at the tops, sides, or bottoms of the windows. The user may also manipulate the windows in the alternate view, and the system alters a normal view of the windows accordingly.
123 Citations
23 Claims
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1. A computer-based system for presenting an alternate view of computer windows on a display device, comprising:
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a display device for presenting computer windows which represent programs operating on a computer, each of the computer windows having a plurality of edges; a memory for storing position and size information of the computer windows; an input device for receiving commands from a user relating to presentation and manipulation of the computer windows; and a processor coupled to the memory, the display device, and the input device, the processor comprising; means for receiving from the input device a command to present an alternate view of the computer windows; display means for presenting on the display device the alternate view of the computer windows upon receiving the command from the input device, the alternate view comprising a plurality of indicators representing corresponding edges of the computer windows displayed in relative position as if the user were looking at the corresponding edges of the computer windows; and means for allowing the user to manipulate the indicators using the input device and for altering a position of the computer windows as determined by the user'"'"'s manipulation of the computer windows.
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2. A computerized system for presenting an alternate view of computer windows on a display device, comprising:
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means for presenting on a display device computer windows which represent programs operating on a computer, each of the computer windows having a plurality of edges; display means for presenting on the display device an alternate view of the computer windows upon selection by a user, the alternate view comprising a plurality of indicators representing corresponding edges of the computer windows displayed in relative position as if the user were looking at the corresponding edges of the computer windows; and means for allowing the user to manipulate the indicators and for altering a position of the computer windows as determined by the user'"'"'s manipulation of the computer windows. - View Dependent Claims (3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computerized method of presenting an alternate view of computer windows on a display device, comprising the steps of:
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presenting on a display device computer windows which represent programs operating on a computer, each of the computer windows having a plurality of edges; presenting on the display device an alternate view of the computer windows upon selection by a user, the alternate view comprising a plurality of indicators representing corresponding edges of the computer windows displayed in relative position as if the user were looking at the corresponding edges of the computer windows; and allowing the user to manipulate the indicators and altering a position of the computer windows as determined by the user'"'"'s manipulation of the computer windows. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification