User interface with multiple workspaces for sharing display system objects
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of operating a system that includes:
- a display;
a user input device for receiving signals from a user; and
a data processor that receives input signals from the user input device and provides output signals to the display;
the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects;
each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features;
the method comprising;
operating the data processor to provide first output signals to the display;
the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects;
the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display;
the first subset including a first display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user'"'"'s capabilities;
while the display is presenting the first workspace, receiving a switch signal sequence from the user input device; and
in response to the switch signal sequence, operating the data processor to provide second output signals to the display;
the second output signals causing the display to cease presenting the first workspace and begin to present a second workspace containing a second subset of the set of display objects;
the display objects of the second subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display;
the second subset including a second display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user'"'"'s capabilities;
the first and second subsets of display objects being different from each other so that the first and second workspaces are perceptible as different workspaces;
the second display object being perceptible as the same tool as the first display object.
8 Assignments
Litigations
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Accused Products
Abstract
Workspaces provided by an object-based user interface appear to share windows and other display objects. Each workspace'"'"'s data structure includes, for each window in that workspace, a linking data structure called a placement which links to the display system object which provides that window, which may be a display system object in a preexisting window system. The placement also contains display characteristics of the window when displayed in that workspace, such as position and size. Therefore, a display system object can be linked to several workspaces by a placement in each of the workspaces'"'"' data structures, and the window it provides to each of those workspaces can have unique display characteristics. The display system object can operate continuously despite switching between one workspace and another, and the windows it provides in successive workspaces can share features so that they appear to the user to be the same window or versions of the same window. As a result, the workspaces appear to be sharing a window. Workspaces can also appear to share a window if each workspace'"'"'s data structure includes data linking to another workspace with a placement to the shared window.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of operating a system that includes:
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a display; a user input device for receiving signals from a user; and a data processor that receives input signals from the user input device and provides output signals to the display;
the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects;
each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features;the method comprising; operating the data processor to provide first output signals to the display;
the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects;
the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display;
the first subset including a first display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user'"'"'s capabilities;while the display is presenting the first workspace, receiving a switch signal sequence from the user input device; and in response to the switch signal sequence, operating the data processor to provide second output signals to the display;
the second output signals causing the display to cease presenting the first workspace and begin to present a second workspace containing a second subset of the set of display objects;
the display objects of the second subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display;
the second subset including a second display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user'"'"'s capabilities;
the first and second subsets of display objects being different from each other so that the first and second workspaces are perceptible as different workspaces;
the second display object being perceptible as the same tool as the first display object. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. A system comprising:
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a display; memory storing data; a user input device for receiving signals from a user; and a data processor connected to receive input signals from the user input device, to provide output signals to the display, and to access data stored in memory;
the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects;
each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features;the data stored in memory comprising instruction data indicating instructions the data processor can execute;
the data processor, in executing the instructions;providing first output signals to the display;
the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects;
the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display;
the first subset including a first display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user'"'"'s capabilities;while the display is presenting the first workspace, receiving a switch signal sequence from the user input device; and in response to the switch signal sequence providing second output signals to the display;
the second output signals causing the display to cease presenting the first workspace and begin to present a second workspace containing a second subset of the set of display objects;
the display objects of the second subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display;
the second subset including a second display object that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user'"'"'s capabilities;
the first and second subsets of display objects being different from each other so that the first and second workspaces are perceptible as different workspaces;
the second display object being perceptible as the same tool as the first display object. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating a system that includes:
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a display; a user input device for receiving signals from a user; and a data processor that receives input signals from the user input device and provides output signals to the display;
the output signals causing the display to present images that include display objects;
each of a set of the display objects being perceptible as a distinct, coherent set of display features;the method comprising; operating the data processor to provide first output signals to the display;
the first output signals causing the display to present a first workspace containing a first subset of the set of display objects;
the display objects of the first subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display;
the first subset including a first window that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user'"'"'s capabilities;while the display is presenting the first workspace, receiving a switch signal sequence from the user input device; and in response to the switch signal sequence, operating the data processor to provide second output signals to the display;
the second output signals causing the display to cease presenting the first workspace and begin to present a second workspace containing a second subset of the set of display objects;
the display objects of the second subset being perceptible as having spatial positions relative to each other when presented by the display;
the second subset including a second window that is perceptible as a tool that augments a user'"'"'s capabilities;
the first and second subsets of display objects being different from each other so that the first and second workspaces are perceptible as different workspaces;
the second window being perceptible as the same tool as the first window. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification