System for simultaneously displaying a static tool palette having predefined windowing tool functions and a dynamic tool palette which changes windowing tool functons in accordance with a context of an executed application program
First Claim
1. A method for displaying a static tool palette having predefined windowing tool functions and a dynamic tool palette having windowing tool functions, the function and number of windowing tool functions in the dynamic tool palette being determined in accordance with a currently-executing application program, the method comprising the steps of:
- launching an application program from within the currently-executing application program, the application program including a static tool palette having predefined windowing functions;
specifying a context environment of the currently-executing application program;
examining the specified context environment of the currently-executing application program;
determining applicable windowing tool functions for the launched application program in accordance with the examined context environment; and
displaying the static tool palette having the predefined windowing tool functions and displaying, during execution of the launched application program, the dynamic tool palette which includes the applicable windowing tool functions determined in the determining step,wherein the static tool palette is displayed simultaneously with, and separately from, the dynamic tool palette.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Method and apparatus for changing a dynamic tool palette in accordance with a current context of an application includes providing a static display of windowing functions and a dynamic display of windowing functions wherein the dynamic display is altered in accordance with a current context of an application. In the invention, the application is executed and the context of the application is registered with a context memory. The registered context is examined and a determination is made as to the applicable windowing functions associated with the registered context. In accordance with the determination result, the dynamic display is modified.
181 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for displaying a static tool palette having predefined windowing tool functions and a dynamic tool palette having windowing tool functions, the function and number of windowing tool functions in the dynamic tool palette being determined in accordance with a currently-executing application program, the method comprising the steps of:
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launching an application program from within the currently-executing application program, the application program including a static tool palette having predefined windowing functions; specifying a context environment of the currently-executing application program; examining the specified context environment of the currently-executing application program; determining applicable windowing tool functions for the launched application program in accordance with the examined context environment; and displaying the static tool palette having the predefined windowing tool functions and displaying, during execution of the launched application program, the dynamic tool palette which includes the applicable windowing tool functions determined in the determining step, wherein the static tool palette is displayed simultaneously with, and separately from, the dynamic tool palette. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus for simultaneously displaying a static tool palette having predefined windowing tool functions and a dynamic tool palette having windowing tool functions, the function and number of windowing tool functions in the dynamic tool palette being determined in accordance with a currently-executing application program, the apparatus comprising:
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memory means for storing a plurality of integrated application programs; selection means for selecting one of the plurality of integrated application programs stored in the memory means, the selected integrated application program including a static tool palette having predefined windowing tool functions; processing means for processing the selected integrated application program, wherein the processing means performs the steps of
1) launching the selected integrated application program from within the currently-executing application program,
2) specifying a context of the currently-executing application program,
3) examining the specified context, and (4) determining applicable windowing tool functions for the selected integrated application program in accordance with the examined context; anddisplay means for displaying a static tool palette having predefined windowing tool functions and for displaying, during execution of the selected integrated application program, a dynamic tool palette which includes the applicable windowing tool functions determined by the processing means, wherein the static tool palette is displayed simultaneously with, and separately from, the dynamic tool palette. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. In an apparatus which includes a first static tool palette having predetermined and unalterable windowing functions and a second dynamic tool palette having modifiable windowing tool functions, a method for determining and displaying the second dynamic tool palette in accordance with a current context of a currently-executing application, the method comprising the steps of:
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launching an application from within the currently-executing application; registering a context of the currently-executing application in a context memory; examining the registered context; determining applicable windowing tool functions associated with the registered context; and displaying the first static tool palette, and displaying the second dynamic tool palette during execution of the application program, the second dynamic tool palette being displayed with the applicable windowing tool functions associated with the registered context. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. An apparatus for altering a dynamic tool palette having windowing tool functions which change in accordance with a current context of a currently-executing application, comprising:
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launching means for launching an application from within the currently-executing application; context memory means for storing a context of the currently-executing application program; registering means for registering the context of the currently-executing application program in the context memory means; examining means for examining the registered context; determining means for determining applicable windowing tool functions associated with the registered context; and display means for displaying the dynamic tool palette including the applicable windowing tool functions, said display means displaying the dynamic tool palette during execution of the application program. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A method for displaying a static tool palette and a dynamic tool palette by which execution of first and second application programs may be initiated, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a static tool palette having predefined windowing tool functions; launching the first application program from the static tool palette and displaying a first dynamic tool palette which is separate from the static tool palette and which includes windowing tool functions which are appropriate for the functionality of the first application program; and launching the second application program from within the first application program and modifying the first dynamic tool palette to include only windowing tool functions which are appropriate for the functionality of the second application program; wherein the appearance and position of the static tool palette is the same regardless of whether the first or the second application program is executing. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification