Method and apparatus for displaying a tree structure diagram representing a relationship among windows with icons representing respective windows

• US 5,933,143 A
• Filed: 09/02/1997
• Issued: 08/03/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Kobayashi, Yoko
• Primary Examiner(s): SAX, STEVEN PAUL
• Application Number:
  US08/921,519
• Time in Patent Office: 700 Days
• Field of Search: 345/346, 345/344, 345/345, 345/340, 345/343, 345/326, 345/339, 345/341, 345/357, 345/140
• US Class Current: 715/805
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs

Abstract

A tree structure diagram is displayed with icons which indicate functions of corresponding windows. The tree structure diagram represents a hierarchical relation between windows used in a multi-window system. An icon is added to each window to be arranged in a tree structure. The icon has an image indicating a function of the respective one of windows. The tree structure diagram is displayed together with the icon added to each window.

Claims

1. A method for representing a hierarchical relation between elements and sub-elements of a window, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying elements and sub-elements in a window to be displayed on a monitor;

relating an icon to each element and each sub-element of the window to be displayed, each icons representing a function or attribute of one of the elements or sub-elements to which the icon is related; and

displaying a tree structure diagram corresponding to data used to form the window, independently of the window being described by the tree structure diagram, using said icons to represent each of said elements and the sub-elements, wherein each element or sub-element is displayed with a designation representing a function or attribute of the element or sub-element.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

c) registering a designation or parentage information of each element and sub-element, said parentage information indicating the presence of higher and lower order element related to each element;

d) setting a level number and an icon in accordance with said parentage information of each element and sub-element so that said tree structure diagram is displayed using said icon and a designation for each element in accordance with said level number.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein when an icon, representing an element or sub-element in a lowest order level, is selected from the tree structure diagram, and an element or sub-element at least one order higher than the selected element is displayed together with the selected element or sub-element.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

c) displaying a designation of each element and sub-element in conjunction with said icon in the tree structure diagram;

d) changing the size of said icons and the designation of said elements displayed in said tree structure diagram.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein a mark indicating a parentage is added to each element and sub-element in said tree structure diagram.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said tree structure diagram is displayed only with said icon of each element and sub-element.

7. An apparatus for displaying a hierarchical relation between elements and sub-elements of a window, the apparatus comprising:

icon adding means for adding an icon to each element and each sub-element to be represented, each of said icons representing a function or attribute of one of the elements or sub-elements to which the icon is related; and

displaying means for displaying a tree structure diagram corresponding to data used to form the window, independently of the window being described by the tree structure diagram, using said icons to represent each of said elements and sub-elements, wherein each sub-element is displayed with a designation of the sub-element.

8. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, further comprising mark adding means for adding a mark indicating a parentage of each element and sub-element in said tree structure diagram.

9. The apparatus as claimed in claim 7, wherein elements or sub-elements having the same parent are defined as, brothers, and said displaying means comprises first storing means for storing information of a child, when a brother has said child, by relating with said brother, together with a designation of said child.

10. The apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said icon adding means comprises:

icon storing means for storing said icon of said each element and sub-element; and

second storing means for adding an icon and a level number to each element and sub-element in accordance with window relation information supplied by said first storing means, and storing window information sorted based on said level numbers.

11. The apparatus as claimed in claim 10, wherein said icon adding means comprises icon creating each element and sub-element, said icon being stored in said icon storing means.

12. The apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said icon creating means defines a plurality of sizes of said icon which can be selected by an operator.

13. A method for representing a hierarchical relation between elements and sub-elements of a window in a graphical user interface, the method comprising the steps of:

identifying elements and sub-elements in a window to be displayed on a monitor;

relating an icon to each element and each sub-element of the window to be displayed, each icon representing a function or attribute of the related element or sub-element;

storing the icon in an icon master file with information related to the related element or sub-element; and

displaying a tree structure diagram corresponding to data used to form the window, independently of the window being described by the tree structure diagram, using icons retrieved from the icon master file so as to represent each element and the sub-element in the window, wherein each sub-element is displayed with a designation of the sub-element.