Window linking
First Claim
1. A method in a computer system having a video display for displaying information, comprising the steps of:
- displaying a plurality of separate windows on the video display, each window having edge, wherein each separate window is manipulated independently of other separate windows;
evaluating the relative dimensions of the edges of two of the plurality of separate windows;
if the relative dimensions do not conform to a predetermined criterion, resizing at least one of the two of the plurality of windows to conform the dimensions along the edge to the predetermined criterion; and
linking the two of the plurality of separate windows at their respective edges to form an aggregate window that is manipulated as a single window.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A window linking system is provided that links windows on a video display to reduced window clutter. When two windows are linked, the linked windows combine to form one larger window, known as an aggregate window, that is manipulated as a single window. By linking windows together, fewer individual windows are contained on the workspace of a video display, which reduces window clutter and which allows a user to more easily reorganize their workspace since fewer windows require manipulation. The window linking system implements window linking by using a container. A "container" is a screen object like a window to which another window, called a docking window, can be linked. The window linking system detects when a docking window is attempting to be linked with a container by determining whether the docking window is being dropped at the border of the container. If the docking window is being dropped at the border of the container, the window linking system links the docking window with the container, displaying both the container and the docking window adjacent to each other. After being linked, the linked windows form an aggregate window that is manipulated as a single window. As such, all resizing of the aggregate window, movement of the aggregate window, minimization of the aggregate window, and maximization of the aggregate window is applied to the aggregate window as a whole, including both the container and the docking window.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A method in a computer system having a video display for displaying information, comprising the steps of:
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displaying a plurality of separate windows on the video display, each window having edge, wherein each separate window is manipulated independently of other separate windows; evaluating the relative dimensions of the edges of two of the plurality of separate windows; if the relative dimensions do not conform to a predetermined criterion, resizing at least one of the two of the plurality of windows to conform the dimensions along the edge to the predetermined criterion; and linking the two of the plurality of separate windows at their respective edges to form an aggregate window that is manipulated as a single window. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the computer system having a video display for displaying information to a user, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying two separate windows on the video display, each window having an edge, wherein in each separate window is manipulated independently of the other separate windows; receiving an indication to move a first of the separate windows; moving the first window in response to receiving the indication; determining when the first window is over a second of the separate windows; receiving an indication that the first window has been dropped when it is determined that the fist window is over the second window; evaluating the relative dimensions of the edges of the first and second windows; if the relative dimensions do not conform to a predetermined criterion, resizing at least one of the windows to conform the dimensions along the edge to the predetermined criterion; and linking the first window and the second window along their respective edges to form an aggregate window such that the first window and the second window are manipulated as a single window. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method in a computer system having a video display for displaying information and an application program for displaying plurality of windows on the video display, the method performed by a docking manager of the application program comprising the steps of:
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displaying windows on the video display that receive messages reflecting user input, each widow having an edge, a plurality of the windows being container windows and a plurality of the windows being docking windows, wherein a docking window is able to be linked to a container window; determining which among the displayed windows are the container windows; determining which among the displayed windows are docking windows; subclassing the container windows and the docking windows such that the docking manager receives messages destined for both the container windows and the docking windows; receiving a message indicating that a docking window is moving; while the docking window is moving; receiving a message indicating that the docking window is located over a container window; and while the docking window is located over the container window, receiving a message indicating that the docking window has been dropped; evaluating the relative dimensions of the edges of the docking and container window; if the relative dimensions do not conform to a predetermined criterion, resizing at least one of the docking and container windows to conform the dimensions along the edge to the predetermined criterion; and linking the docking window to the container window along their respective edges to form an aggregate window such that the aggregate window is manipulated as a single window responsive to the receiving the message indicating that the docking window has been dropped. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A computer system, comprising:
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a video display for displaying information; an input device for receiving input from a user; a memory containing a program for separately displaying two windows, each window having as edge, on the video display, for receiving first input from the user via the input device, for evaluating the relative dimensions of the edges of the two windows, for resizing the edge of at least one of the two windows to conform the dimensions along the edge to a predetermined criterion, for linking the two windows to form an aggregate window in response to receiving the first input, for receiving second input requesting manipulation of the aggregate window, and for manipulating the aggregate window as a single window in response to receiving the second input; and a processor for running the program. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44)
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45. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for controlling a computer system to perform a method, the computer system having a video display for displaying information, the method comprising the steps of:
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displaying a plurality of separate windows on the video display, each window having an edge, wherein each separate window is manipulated independently of other separate windows; evaluating the relative dimension of the edges of two of the plurality of separate window; if the relative dimension do not conform to a predetermined criterion, resizing at least one of the two of the plurality of windows to conform the dimensions along the edge to the predetermined criterion; and linking the two of the plurality of separate windows along their respective edges to form an aggregate window that is manipulated as a single window.
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Specification