Method, memory and apparatus for postponing transference of focus to a newly opened window

• US 5,721,849 A
• Filed: 03/29/1996
• Issued: 02/24/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Amro, Hatim Yousef
• Primary Examiner(s): Powell, Mark R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US08/626,219
• Time in Patent Office: 697 Days
• Field of Search: 395/339, 395/340, 395/342, 395/343, 395/344, 395/345, 395/347, 395/670, 395/671, 395/672, 395/673, 395/821, 395/822, 395/823, 395/824, 395/825, 395/826, 395/827
• US Class Current: 715/802
• 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, apparatus, and article of manufacture direct a computer system to postpone transferring focus to a newly opened window displayed on the computer display. The method includes the first step of in response to a command from user controls to open a new window, determining if an existing open window retains focus. If an existing open window retains focus, the second step includes determining if at least one key stroke has been received from a buffer while focus is being transferred to the new window. If the buffer is receiving at least one key stroke while focus is being transferred to the new window, the third step includes mapping the new window to the computer display while retaining focus with the existing window.

Claims

1. A method for directing a computer system, having at least a processor, user controls, key board, and computer display, to postpone transferring focus to a newly opened window displayed on the computer display, comprising the steps of:

in response to a command from user controls to open a first window, determining if a second window retains focus;

if a second window retains focus, determining if at least one key stroke from the key board has been received in a buffer for entry into the second window by a user while focus is being transferred to the first window; and

if the buffer has received at least one key stroke for entry into the second window by a user while focus is being transferred to the first window, mapping the first window to the computer display while retaining focus with the second window.

2. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of determining if the second window has focus comprises the following step:

examining a focus column of a system table for an indication that the second window has focus.

3. The method according to claim 1 wherein the step of determining if key strokes have been received comprises the following step:

if the second window has focus, determining if a buffer for queuing key strokes is receiving information while focus is being transferred to the first window.

4. The method according to claim 1 further comprising the step of:

if the buffer has not receiving information while focus is being transferred to the first window, mapping the first window to the computer display and transferring focus to the first window.

5. A computer system for directing a computer system to postpone transferring focus to a newly opened window displayed on a computer display, comprising:

user controls;

key board;

in response to a command from the user controls to open a first window, means for determining if a second window retains focus;

if the second window retains focus, means for determining if at least one key stroke from the key board is being received in a buffer for entry into the second window by a user while focus is being transferred to the first window; and

if the buffer is receiving at least one key stroke for entry into the second window by a user while focus is being transferred to the first window, means for mapping the first window to the computer display while retaining focus with the second window.

6. The system according to claim 5 further comprising:

means for examining a focus column of a system table for an indication that the second window has focus.

7. The system according to claim 5 further comprising:

if the second window has focus, means for determining if a buffer for queuing key strokes is receiving information while focus is being transferred to the first window.

8. The system according to claim 5 further comprising:

if the buffer has not receiving information while focus is being transferred to the first window, means for mapping the first window to the computer display and transferring focus to the first window.

9. An article of manufacture, comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer readable program code means embodied therein for directing a computer system, having at least a processor, user controls, key board, and computer display, to postpone transferring focus to a newly opened window displayed on the computer display, the computer usable medium comprising;

in response to a command from user controls to open a new window, first computer readable program code means for causing the computer system to determine if an existing open window retains focus;

if the existing open window retains focus, second computer readable program code means for causing the computer system to determine if at least one key stroke from the key board is being received by a buffer for entry into the second window by a user while focus is being transferred to the new window; and

if the buffer is receiving at least one key stroke for entry into the second window by a usher while focus is being transferred to the new window, third computer readable program code means for causing the computer system to map the new window to the computer display while retaining focus with the existing window.