Windowed computer display

• US 5,555,364 A
• Filed: 08/23/1994
• Issued: 09/10/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sage Software Incorporated (Sage Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Prosoft Corporation (Click Start Associates Ltd.)
• Inventors: Goldstein, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HO, RUAY L
• Application Number:
  US08/294,502
• Time in Patent Office: 749 Days
• Field of Search: 395/159, 395/157, 395/156, 395/158, 395/161, 345/156
• US Class Current: 715/797
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1091 Recording time for administrative or management purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment

Abstract

A method of displaying graphical data on a display device of a computer system and a computer system employing the method. The method comprises the steps of: (1) forming a first window on the display device, the first window capable of displaying data associated with a first task executing on the computer system, the first window occluding a first portion of a total area of the display device, the first window being a currently active window and (2) forming a second window on the display device, the second window capable of displaying data associated with a second task executing on the computer system, the second window occluding a second portion of the total area of the display device and superseding the first window as the currently active window, the first window occluding the second window to an extent that the first portion overlaps the second portion, the first window continuing to present functions associated with the first task to the user while the user interacts with the second task, the first task automatically redesignating the second window as the currently active window when the user is not interacting with the first task.

Claims

1. A computer system, comprising:

a memory device for storing tasks for execution by said computer system;

a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said memory device for executing selectable ones of said tasks;

a display device coupled to said CPU and providing an area for displaying data associated with said selectable ones of said tasks, said area capable of being divided into a plurality of windows, said plurality of windows providing regions within said area for displaying data associated with corresponding said selectable ones of said tasks, said plurality of windows capable of occluding one another to denote foreground and background tasks; and

a first task storable on said memory device and executable by said CPU, said first task directing said CPU to create an associated first window on said display device, said associated first window capable of occluding a portion of said plurality of windows to allow a user continued temporary access to functions of said first task when one of said plurality of tasks is a foreground task, said first task automatically returning execution to said foreground task when said temporary access is completed.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein at least one of said functions of said first task comprises a setting of a timer to measure units of time for said user.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said functions comprise a displaying of a timer indicator to measure units of time for said user.

4. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said associated first window contains means for establishing a timer.

5. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first task further comprises means for establishing said region of said associated first window.

6. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first task further comprises means for selecting said functions to be displayed in said associated first window.

7. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said associated first window contains a plurality of timer indicators arranged in a button bar.

8. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said associated first window contains a plurality of timer indicators, said system further comprising means for stopping one of said plurality of timer indicators when another of said plurality of timer indicators is started.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said associated first window contains a timer indicator, said system further comprising means for labeling said timer indicator.

10. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein one of said functions allows a user to open a further window to allow said user to access further functions of said first task.

11. A method of displaying graphical data on a display device of a computer system, comprising the steps of:

forming a first window on said display device, said first window capable of displaying data associated with a first task executing on said computer system, said first window occluding a first portion of a total area of said display device, said first window being a currently active window; and

forming a second window on said display device, said second window capable of displaying data associated with a second task executing on said computer system, said second window occluding a second portion of said total area of said display device and superseding said first window as said currently active window, said first window occluding said second window to an extent that said first portion overlaps said second portion, said first window continuing to present functions associated with said first task to said user while said user interacts with said second task, said first task automatically redesignating said second window as said currently active window when said user is not interacting with said first task.

12. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein at least one of said functions associated with said first task comprises a setting of a timer to measure units of time for said user.

13. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said functions comprise a displaying of a timer indicator to measure units of time for said user.

14. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of establishing a timer.

15. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of establishing said first portion.

16. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of selecting said functions to be displayed in said first window.

17. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said first window contains a plurality of timer indicators arranged in a button bar.

18. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said first window contains a plurality of timer indicators, said method further comprising the step of stopping one of said plurality of timer indicators when another of said plurality of timer indicators is started.

19. The method as recited in claim 11 wherein said first window contains a timer indicator, said method further comprising the step of labeling said timer indicator.

20. The method as recited in claim 11 further comprising the step of opening a further window by accessing one of said functions to allow said user to access further functions of said first task.

21. A computer system, comprising:

a memory device for storing application tasks for execution by said computer system;

a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said memory device for executing selectable ones of said application tasks;

a display device coupled to said CPU and providing an area for displaying data associated with said selectable ones of said application tasks, said area capable of being divided into a plurality of windows, said plurality of windows providing regions within said area for displaying data associated with corresponding said selectable ones of said application tasks, said plurality of windows capable of occluding one another to denote foreground and background application tasks; and

a timekeeping task storable on said memory device and executable by said CPU, said timekeeping task directing said CPU to create an associated timekeeping window on said display device, said associated timekeeping window capable of occluding a portion of said plurality of windows, including a portion of a window corresponding to a foreground application task to allow a user continued temporary access to timekeeping functions of said timekeeping task when one of said plurality of tasks is a foreground application task, said timekeeping task automatically returning execution to said foreground application task when said temporary access is completed.

22. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said associated timekeeping window allows a user to set a timer to measure units of time for said user.

23. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said associated timekeeping window displays a timer indicator to measure units of time for said user.

24. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said associated timekeeping window contains means for establishing a timer.

25. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said timekeeping task further comprises means for establishing said region of said associated timekeeping window.

26. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said timekeeping task further comprises means for selecting said functions to be displayed in said associated timekeeping window.

27. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said associated timekeeping window contains a plurality of timer indicators arranged in a button bar.

28. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said associated timekeeping window contains a plurality of timer indicators, said system further comprising means for stopping one of said plurality of timer indicators when another of said plurality of timer indicators is started.

29. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said associated timekeeping window contains a timer indicator, said system further comprising means for labeling said timer indicator.

30. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein one of said functions allows a user to open a further window to allow said user to access further timekeeping functions of said timekeeping task.

31. A method of displaying graphical data on a display device of a computer system, comprising the steps of:

forming a first window on said display device, said first window capable of displaying data associated with a timekeeping task executing on said computer system, said first window occluding a first portion of a total area of said display device, said first window being a currently active window; and

forming a second window on said display device, said second window capable of displaying data associated with an application task executing on said computer system, said second window occluding a second portion of said total area of said display device and superseding said first window as said currently active window, said first window occluding said second window to an extent that said first portion overlaps said second portion, said first window continuing to present timekeeping functions associated with said timekeeping task to said user while said user interacts with said application task, said timekeeping task automatically redesignating said second window as said currently active window when said user is not interacting with said timekeeping task.

32. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said timekeeping functions comprise a setting of a timer to measure units of time for said user.

33. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said timekeeping functions comprise a displaying of a timer indicator to measure units of time for said user.

34. The method as recited in claim 31 further comprising the step of establishing a timer.

35. The method as recited in claim 31 further comprising the step of establishing said first portion.

36. The method as recited in claim 31 further comprising the step of selecting said timekeeping functions to be displayed in said timekeeping window.

37. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said timekeeping window contains a plurality of timer indicators arranged in a button bar.

38. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said timekeeping window contains a plurality of timer indicators, said method further comprising the step of stopping one of said plurality of timer indicators when another of said plurality of timer indicators is started.

39. The method as recited in claim 31 wherein said timekeeping window contains a timer indicator, said method further comprising the step of labeling said timer indicator.

40. The method as recited in claim 31 further comprising the step of opening a further window by accessing one of said timekeeping functions to allow said user to access further functions of said timekeeping task.

41. A computer system, comprising:

a memory device for storing application tasks for execution by said computer system;

a central processing unit (CPU) coupled to said memory device for executing selectable ones of said application tasks;

a display device coupled to said CPU and providing an area for displaying data associated with said selectable ones of said application tasks, said area capable of being divided into a plurality of windows, said plurality of windows providing regions within said area for displaying data associated with corresponding said selectable ones of said application tasks, said plurality of windows capable of occluding one another to denote foreground and background tasks on said computer system; and

a timekeeping task storable on said memory device and executable by said CPU as a background task, said timekeeping task directing said CPU to create an associated timekeeping window in a foreground on said display device, said associated timekeeping window capable of occluding a portion of said plurality of windows, including a portion of a window corresponding to a current foreground application task, to allow a user continued access to timekeeping functions of said timekeeping task operating as said background task without requiring said timekeeping task to be made a foreground task.

42. The system as recited in claim 41 wherein said timekeeping window allows said user to pass data to said timekeeping task operating as said background task.

43. The system as recited in claim 41 wherein said associated timekeeping window allows a user to set a timer to measure units of time for said user.

44. The system as recited in claim 41 wherein said associated timekeeping window displays a timer indicator to measure units of time for said user.

45. The system as recited in claim 41 wherein said associated timekeeping window allows said user to establish a timer.

46. The system as recited in claim 41 wherein said timekeeping task allows said user to establish said region of said associated timekeeping window.

47. The system as recited in claim 41 wherein said timekeeping task allows said user to select said functions to be displayed in said associated timekeeping window.

48. The system as recited in claim 41 wherein said associated timekeeping window contains a plurality of timer indicators arranged in a button bar.

49. The system as recited in claim 41 wherein said associated timekeeping window contains a plurality of timer indicators, said system stopping one of said plurality of timer indicators when another of said plurality of timer indicators is started.

50. The system as recited in claim 41 wherein said associated timekeeping window contains a timer indicator, said timekeeping task allowing said user to label said timer indicator.

51. A method of displaying graphical data on a display device of a computer system, comprising the steps of:

forming a first window on said display device, said first window capable of displaying data associated with a timekeeping task executing as a foreground task on said computer system, said first window occluding a first portion of a total area of said display device, said first window being a currently active window; and

forming a second window on said display device, said second window capable of displaying data associated with an application task executing on said computer system, said second window occluding a second portion of said total area of said display device and superseding said first window as said currently active window, said timekeeping task becoming a background task on said computer system, said first window occluding said second window to an extent that said first portion overlaps said second portion, said first window continuing to present timekeeping functions associated with said timekeeping task to said user while said user interacts with said application task to allow said user continued access to timekeeping functions of said timekeeping task, still operating as said background task, without requiring said timekeeping task to be redesignated as said foreground task.

52. The method as recited in claim 51 wherein said timekeeping window allows said user to pass data to said timekeeping task operating as said background task.

53. The method as recited in claim 51 wherein said timekeeping functions comprise a setting of a timer to measure units of time for said user.

54. The method as recited in claim 51 wherein said timekeeping functions comprise a displaying of a timer indicator to measure units of time for said user.

55. The method as recited in claim 51 further comprising the step of establishing a timer.

56. The method as recited in claim 51 further comprising the step of establishing said first portion.

57. The method as recited in claim 51 further comprising the step of selecting said timekeeping functions to be displayed in said timekeeping window.

58. The method as recited in claim 51 wherein said timekeeping window contains a plurality of timer indicators arranged in a button bar.

59. The method as recited in claim 51 wherein said timekeeping window contains a plurality of timer indicators, said method further comprising the step of stopping one of said plurality of timer indicators when another of said plurality of timer indicators is started.

60. The method as recited in claim 51 wherein said timekeeping window contains a timer indicator, said method further comprising the step of labeling said timer indicator.