Desktop manager for graphical user interface based system with enhanced desktop

• US 5,835,090 A
• Filed: 10/17/1996
• Issued: 11/10/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 10/16/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Etma, Inc. (Hopper, Inc.)
• Inventors: Clark, Richard L., Martyn, Tom C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kim, Matthew M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): dela Torre, Crescelle N.
• Application Number:
  US08/733,224
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 345/339, 345/340, 345/342, 345/343, 345/346, 345/348, 345/356, 345/326, 345/332, 345/335, 345/145, 395/683
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2360/04 Display device controller operating with a plurality of display units
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A desktop manager application (20) manages graphical object creation, repositioning, resizing and related object placement functions in the context of a multi-monitor or other enhanced desktop environment. In a preferred implementation, the program manager (20) manages multi-pass window creation by allowing a graphical user interface operating system (16) to fill in a window structure in a hidden form and thereafter analyzing the window'"'"'s coordinates relative to selected display criteria such as avoiding monitor splits. Based on this analysis, the program manager (20) selectively repositions the window under consideration in accordance with the display criteria. The program manager (20) thus provides a more user friendly interface between a GUI operating system (16) and applications in the enhanced desktop environment.

Claims

1. A desktop managing method for use in a computer system including at least first and second monitors and a graphical user interface (GUI) operating system, the GUI operating system being operative for use in drawing objects on an enhanced graphical desktop wherein the enhanced graphical desktop has a desktop area that includes a display area of the first and second monitors, said method comprising the steps of:

monitoring graphical object messages passing in said computer system, said graphical object messages including assigned graphical object display parameters for a graphical object including assigned display coordinate information;

altering a selected display parameter of a first graphical object message relating to said graphical object;

separate from said step of altering, conducting an analysis relating to said assigned display coordinate information of said graphical object; and

selectively changing said assigned display coordinate information of said graphical object in response to said analysis so as to fully display said object on one of said first and second monitors, wherein said process of altering a display parameter and separately analyzing coordinate information allows for consistent handling of drawing operations.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said graphical object is a child window associated with a parent window, wherein said parent window is held on one of said first and second monitors, and said step of selectively changing comprises relocating said graphical object to the monitor holding said parent window.

3. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said assigned display coordinate information includes portions of each of said first and second monitors and said step of selectively changing comprises relocating said graphical object to the monitor including the greatest area of said graphical object.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the step of minimizing said graphical object to a selected one of said first and second monitors.

5. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of identifying user originated messages for moving said graphical object relative to said desktop from a starting position to an end position and determining whether said end position extends over a border of said display area between said first and second monitors.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said graphical object comprises a child window.

7. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of altering a selected display parameter comprises giving said graphical object a hidden form.

8. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of conducting an analysis comprises intercepting a second graphical object message relating to said graphical object, wherein said first and second messages constitute at least a part of a drawing operation and said method further comprises handling said first and second messages in a coordinated fashion so as to consistently treat elements of said drawing operation.

9. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring comprises identifying a graphical object completion message relating to displaying said graphical object, wherein said step of conducting an analysis is performed in response to said graphical object completion message.

10. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring comprises identifying user originated messages relating to opening said graphical object.

11. A method as set forth in claim 1, wherein said step of monitoring comprises identifying a keyboard input having an assigned object repositioning function and said method further comprises the step of repositioning said graphical object according to said assigned function.

12. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

providing a graphical representation of said enhanced desktop within said display area of one of said first and second monitors; and

providing a symbol of said graphical object at a symbol location within said graphical representation of said enhanced desktop.

13. A method as set forth in claim 12, further comprising the step of moving said graphical object from one of said first and second monitors to a different one of said first and second monitors by moving said symbol of said graphical object relative to said graphical representation of said enhanced desktop.

14. A method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of receiving selected resizing coordinate information relating to resizing said graphical object and resizing said graphical object in accordance with said resizing coordinate information.