Dynamically modifying a graphical user interface window title

• US 5,784,057 A
• Filed: 08/14/1996
• Issued: 07/21/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/14/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ricoh Company Limited
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Doescher, Calvin Larry, Goddard, Joan Stagaman, Boldt, Gerald D., Wittig, James Philip, Alimpich, Claudia C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matthew M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): HUYNH, BA
• Application Number:
  US08/696,746
• Time in Patent Office: 706 Days
• Field of Search: 345/326, 345/327, 345/328, 345/329, 345/330, 345/331, 345/332, 345/333, 345/334, 345/339, 345/340, 345/342, 345/343, 345/348, 345/349, 345/350, 345/351, 345/352, 345/353, 345/354, 345/357
• US Class Current: 715/781
• 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

An application, method and apparatus for revision of a title of a window containing objects as controlled by a computer system. The computer system has at least a visual operator interface, an operating system for operating applications within the computer system, and memory for storing the application therein. A title is generated for the window containing a list of all of the parent objects, either in the window or represented by child objects in the window. The title is revised dynamically to correspond with modifications in the parent objects. The title revision is done while the window is displayed. Also a means for retaining in the title the name of a parent object even if the parent object becomes temporarily unavailable while the window is displayed. Also a means for saving the revised title so that when the window is opened again in the future, the objects are displayed. Additionally a means for closing the window if all of the objects are deleted.

Claims

1. An application for revision of a title of a window containing parent objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application, the application comprising:

means for generating a title of the window comprising a list of all of the parent objects in the window;

means for designating objects in the window to be altered, modified, added or deleted (collectively "modified");

means for modifying the designated objects; and

means for dynamically revising the title of the window while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the designated objects.

2. An application for revision of a title of a window containing parent objects in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for retaining in the title the name of a parent object in the window even if the parent object becomes temporarily unavailable while the window is displayed.

3. An application for revision of a title of a window containing parent objects in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for saving the revised title so that when the window is opened again in the future, the modified objects will appear in the window.

4. An application for revision of a title of a window containing parent objects in accordance with claim 1, further comprising means for closing the window if all of the objects in the window are deleted.

5. An application for revision of a title of a window containing parent objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application, the application comprising:

means for generating a title of the window comprising a list of all of the parent objects in the window;

means for designating objects in the window to be altered, modified, added or deleted (collectively "modified");

means for modifying the designated objects;

means for dynamically revising the title of the window while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the designated objects; and

means for retaining in the title the name of a parent object in the window even if the object becomes temporarily unavailable while the window is displayed.

6. An application for revision of a title of a window containing parent objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application, the application comprising:

means for generating a title of the window comprising a list of all of the parent objects in the window;

means for designating objects in the window to be altered, modified, added or deleted (collectively "modified");

means for modifying the designated objects;

means for dynamically revising the title of the window while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the designated objects; and

means for saving the revised title so that when the window is opened again in the future, the modified objects will appear in the window.

7. An application for revision of a title of a window containing parent objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application, the application comprising:

means for generating a title of the window comprising a list of all of the parent objects in the window;

means for designating objects in the window to be altered, modified, added or deleted (collectively "modified");

means for modifying the designated objects;

means for dynamically revising the title of the window while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the designated objects; and

means for closing the window if all of the objects are deleted.

8. An application for revision of a title of a window containing parent objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application, the application comprising:

means for generating a title of the window comprising a list of all of the parent objects in the window;

means for designating objects in the window to be altered, modified, added or deleted (collectively "modified");

means for modifying the designated objects;

means for dynamically revising the title of the window while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the designated objects;

means for retaining in the title the name of a parent object in the window even if the object becomes temporarily unavailable while the window is displayed;

means for saving the revised title so that when the window is opened again in the future, the modified objects will appear in the window; and

means for closing the window if all of the objects are deleted.

9. An application for revision of a title of a window containing child objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application, the application comprising:

means for generating a title of the window comprising a list of names of each parent object represented by one or more child objects in the window;

means for modifying one or more of the parent objects; and

means for dynamically revising the title of the window containing child objects while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the parent objects.

10. An application for revision of a title of a window containing child objects in accordance with claim 9, further comprising means for retaining in the title the name of a parent object even if the parent object becomes temporarily unavailable while the window is displayed.

11. An application for revision of a title of a window containing child objects in accordance with claim 9, further comprising means for saving the revised title so that when the window is opened again in the future, the objects will appear in the window.

12. An application for revision of a title of a window containing child objects in accordance with claim 9, further comprising means for closing the window if all of the objects in the window are deleted.

13. An application for revision of a title of a window containing parent objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application, the application comprising:

means for generating a title of the window comprising a list of names of each parent object represented by one or more child objects in the window;

means for modifying one or more of the parent objects; and

means for dynamically revising the title of the window containing child objects while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the parent objects.

14. An application for revision of a title of a window containing parent objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application, the application comprising:

means for generating a title of the window comprising a list of names of each parent object represented by one or more child objects in the window;

means for modifying one or more of the parent objects; and

means for dynamically revising the title of the window containing child objects while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the parent objects;

means for saving the revised title so that when the window is opened again in the future, the objects will appear; and

means for closing the window if all of the objects are deleted.

15. A method for revision of a title of a window containing parent objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator or interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application, the method comprising the steps of:

generating a title of the window comprising a list of all of the objects in the window;

designating objects in the window to be altered, modified, added or deleted (collectively "modified");

modifying the designated objects; and

revising the title of the window while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the objects.

16. A method for revision of the value of a title of a window containing objects in accordance with claim 15 further comprising the step of retaining in the title the name of an object in the window even if the object becomes temporarily unavailable while the window is displayed.

17. A method for revision of the value of a title of a window containing objects in accordance with claim 15 further comprising the step of saving the revised title so that when the window is pulled up again in the future, the modified objects will appear in the window.

18. A method for revision of the value of a title of a window containing objects in accordance with claim 15 further comprising the step of closing the window if all of the objects are deleted.

19. A method for revision of a title of a window containing objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator or interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application therein, said method comprising the steps of

generating a title of the window comprising a list of names of each parent object represented by one or more child objects in the window;

modifying one or more of the parent objects; and

dynamically revising the title of the window containing child objects while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the parent objects; and

retaining in the title the name of an object in the window even if the object becomes temporarily unavailable while the window is displayed.

20. A method for revision of a title of a window containing objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator or interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application therein, said method comprising the steps of

generating a title of the window comprising a list of names of each parent object represented by one or more child objects in the window;

modifying one or more of the parent objects;

dynamically revising the title of the window containing child objects while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the parent objects; and

saving the revised title so that when the window is pulled up again in the future, the modified objects will appear in the window.

21. A method for revision of a title of a window containing objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator or interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application therein, said method comprising the steps of:

means for generating a title of the window comprising a list of names of each parent object represented by one or more child objects in the window;

means for modifying one or more of the parent objects; and

means for dynamically revising the title of the window containing child objects while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the parent objects.

22. A method for revision of a title of a window containing objects as controlled by a computer system having at least a visual operator or interface, an operating system for controlling the operation of program applications within the computer system, and memory for storing a program application therein, said method comprising the steps of

generating a title of the window comprising a list of names of each parent object represented by one or more child objects in the window;

modifying one or more of the parent objects; and

dynamically revising the title of the window containing child objects while the window continues to be displayed to correspond to the modifications of the parent objects.