Method of displaying multiple sets of information in the same area of a computer screen

• US 5,546,528 A
• Filed: 06/23/1994
• Issued: 08/13/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Adobe Systems Incorporated (Adobe Inc.)
• Inventors: Johnston, Kevin R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Breene, John E.
• Application Number:
  US08/265,653
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155-161, 345/117-120, 345/146, 345/902
• US Class Current: 715/807
• 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 method for displaying on a computer screen multiple sets of information needed on a recurring basis, comprising the steps of: (1) Establishing an area on the computer screen in which the multiple sets of information are to be displayed, the established area having a maximum size which is substantially less than the entire area of the screen. (2) Providing within the established area a plurality of selection indicators, one for each of the multiple sets of information. (3) Selecting one of the multiple sets of information for display within the established area by pointing to one of the selection indicators within the established area, whereby the selected set of information will be substituted within the established area for the set of information previously being displayed therein. A selected set of information may also be moved out of the selected area by pointing to its selection indicator and dragging it away.

Claims

1. A method for combining on a computer display an additional set of information into a group of multiple sets of information needed on a recurring basis, comprising the steps of:

establishing an area on the computer display in which the group of multiple sets of information is to be displayed, the area having a size which is less than the entire area of the computer display;

providing within the area a plurality of selection indicators, one associated with a corresponding one of the multiple sets of information; and

selecting a second of the multiple sets of information from the group for display within the area by activating a selection indicator associated with a corresponding one of the multiple sets of information, whereby the second of the multiple sets of information is substituted within the area of the display for the first set of information; and

combining the additional set of information, displayed in a different area of the display from the established area, into the group of multiple sets of information so that the additional sets of information may be selected in the same manner as the other sets of information in the group.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the established area is movable to various display locations around the display.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the additional set of information is combined by pointing to a selection indicator for the additional set of information and dragging that selection indicator into the established area.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein one of the multiple sets of information in the established area is moved away from the established area.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein the move is accomplished by activating to a selection indicator for the set of information to be moved and dragging that selection indicator away from the established area.

6. A method for removing a set of information from a group of multiple sets of information on a computer display, comprising the steps of:

establishing an area on the computer display in which the group of multiple sets of information is to be displayed, the area having a size which is less than the entire area of the computer display;

displaying within the area a first of the multiple sets of information from the group of multiple sets of information;

providing within the area a plurality of selection indicators, each being associated with one of the multiple sets of information;

selecting a second of the multiple sets of information from the group of multiple sets of information for displaying within the area by activating a selection indicator associate with the second of the multiple sets of information, whereby the second of the multiple sets of information is substituted on the display for the first of the multiple sets of information; and

removing a set of information from the group of multiple sets of information and displaying that set of information in a different area of the display from the established area.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the set of information is removed by pointing to the selection indicator associated with that set of information and dragging the set of information out of the established area.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the established area is movable to another location on the display.