Data processing system and method for viewing objects on a user interface

• US 5,877,763 A
• Filed: 11/20/1996
• Issued: 03/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Berry, Richard Edmond, Swearingen, Craig Ardner, Roberts, David John, Mullaly, John Martin, Burton, Denise Marie
• Primary Examiner(s): KATBAB, ABDOLLAH
• Application Number:
  US08/753,078
• Time in Patent Office: 832 Days
• Field of Search: 345/340, 345/343, 345/344, 345/345, 345/347, 345/975
• US Class Current: 715/803
• 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 data processing system and method of operation thereof detect when a situation occurs in which a window displayed on a display device should be brought to a user'"'"'s attention. That window is then surfaced at the top of a window system z-order of the data processing system without modifying a current activation state of the window. Thus, while the window is guaranteed to be visible or unobscured by any other windows, the current activation state is not changed and any user input is still in control of the user.

Claims

1. A data processing system, comprising:

a display device for displaying a first object at a first display order and a second object at a second display order;

a user interface for receiving a plurality of control inputs for selectively controlling operation of the first object displayed by the display device when the plurality of control inputs indicate the first object has focus; and

a data processor comprising a central processing unit, wherein the central processing unit is coupled to the user interface for receiving the plurality of control inputs and coupled to the display device to provide a plurality of object control signals which enable the display device to display the second object at the first display order, wherein the second object has no focus, and the first object at the second display order.

2. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the second object continues to have no focus when the second object is displayed at the first display order.

3. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of control inputs control operation of only the first object displayed by the display device when the first object has focus and the second object has no focus.

4. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the second object is superimposed over the first object when the second object is displayed at the first display order and the first object is displayed at the second display order.

5. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein a function is executed when the second object is displayed at the first display order.

6. The data processing system of claim 5 wherein the function is one of a sound function and a graphic function.

7. The data processing system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of object control signals enable the display device to display the second object at the first display order and the first object at the second display order when a preselected event occurs.

8. The data processing system of claim 7 wherein the preselected event requires an action by an external user.

9. The data processing system of claim 8 wherein the plurality of object control signals enable the display device to display the second object at the second display order after a period of time has expired and the external user has not performed the action.

10. A method for operating a data processing system, comprising the steps of:

displaying a first object which has focus on a display device at a first display order;

displaying a second object which has no focus on the display device at a second display order;

detecting a preselected event; and

displaying the second object which has no focus on the display device at the first display order upon detection of the preselected event.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

receiving a plurality of control inputs at a user interface for controlling operation of only a current object which has focus.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the first object is the current object.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising the step of:

controlling operation of only the first object in response to the plurality of control input signals provided by an external interface when the first object has focus and the second object is at the first display order.

14. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

determining when the second object is in a non-current workspace; and

displaying the second object in a current workspace of the display device upon detection of the preselected event.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein the preselected event is an event which requires an action by an external user.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising the steps of:

determining when the external user has not performed the action for a predetermined time period; and

displaying the second object at the second level.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein a current object having focus will retain focus when a display order of the current object is modified.

18. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, comprising:

means for enabling a display device to display a first object at a first display order, the first object having focus;

means for enabling a display device to display a second object at a second display order, the second object having no focus;

means for enabling a central processing unit to detect a preselected event; and

means for enabling the display device to display the second object at the first display order upon detection of the preselected event, the second object having no focus.

19. The computer program of claim 18 further comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of control inputs at a user interface for controlling operation of only a current object having focus.

20. The computer program of claim 18 further comprising:

means for enabling the central processing unit to control operation of only the first object in response to the plurality of control input signals provided by an external interface when the first object has focus and the second object is at the first display order.

21. The computer program of claim 18 wherein the preselected event is an event which requires an action to be performed by an external user.

22. The computer program of claim 21, further comprising:

means for detecting when a period of time has passed and an external user has not performed the action; and

means for displaying the second object at the second level when the period of time is detected.

23. The computer program of claim 18 further comprising:

means for enabling the central processing unit to determine when the second object is in a non-current workspace; and

means for enabling the display device to display the second object in a current workspace of the display device upon the detection of the preselected event.