Method and apparatus for handles to components in graphical windows user interface
First Claim
1. A method for operating a computer having a user interface desktop controllable by a pointing device having a pointing device cursor, to control at least one of the execution of an application and the relative position along a z-axis of said desktop of a window associated with said application, said method comprising:
- providing in a fixed position on said desktop a handle which is separate from any group of handles that can be resized and moved by a pointing device, said handle configured so that it is always displayed at a foremost position along said z-axis, the position of said handle along said edge of said desktop being user defined;
providing at least one edge portion of said handle coincident with an edge of said desktop delimiting a range of movement of said pointing device cursor;
linking said handle to said application so that when said handle is activated by means of a pointing device, said application will be caused to execute and said window will be displayed at a foremost position along said z-axis.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method and apparatus for use with a computer having a graphical user interface, including a desktop, displayed on a computer screen. The system is designed for controlling the execution of a computer application program, and the relative position of a window associated with said application along a z-axis defined as extending perpendicular to the surface of the computer screen. The invention includes a new graphical user interface element in the form of a handle positioned along a peripheral edge of a desktop. The handle is configured so that it is always visible on the desktop, and the position of the handle is user defined or programmable according to a convention. A link is provided between the handle and an associated application so that when handle is activated by means of a pointing device, a window associated with the application will be displayed as a foreground window on the desktop. The system permits the application to be efficiently and quickly accessed by activation of the handle.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method for operating a computer having a user interface desktop controllable by a pointing device having a pointing device cursor, to control at least one of the execution of an application and the relative position along a z-axis of said desktop of a window associated with said application, said method comprising:
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providing in a fixed position on said desktop a handle which is separate from any group of handles that can be resized and moved by a pointing device, said handle configured so that it is always displayed at a foremost position along said z-axis, the position of said handle along said edge of said desktop being user defined; providing at least one edge portion of said handle coincident with an edge of said desktop delimiting a range of movement of said pointing device cursor; linking said handle to said application so that when said handle is activated by means of a pointing device, said application will be caused to execute and said window will be displayed at a foremost position along said z-axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A program routine of instructions stored in a physical medium for use with a computer having a user interface desktop controllable by a pointing device having a pointing device cursor displayed on said desktop, said program routine for controlling at least one of the execution of an application, and the relative position along a z-axis of said desktop of a window associated with said application, said program routine comprising:
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handle means for displaying on said desktop a handle which is separate from any group of handles that can be resized and moved by a pointing device, said handle configured so that it is always positioned at a foremost location along said z-axis, a fixed position of said handle along said edge of said desktop being user defined so that said position will not vary unless reset by a user; means for providing at least one edge portion of said handle coincident with an edge of said desktop delimiting a range of movement of said pointing device cursor; linking means for linking said handle to said application so that when said handle is activated by means of a pointing device, said window associated with said application will be displayed as a foreground window on said desktop. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer user interface desktop controllable by a pointing device having a pointing device cursor displayed on said desktop, for controlling at least one of the execution of an application and the relative position along a z-axis of said desktop of a window associated with said application, said user interface comprising:
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handle means displayed on said desktop, said handle means separate from any group of handles that can be resized and moved by a pointing device and configured so as to be always positioned at a foremost location along said z-axis, a fixed position of said handle means along said edge of said desktop being user defined so that such position will not vary unless reset by a user; means for providing at least one edge portion of said handle means coincident with an edge of said desktop delimiting a range of movement of said pointing device cursor; linking means for linking said handle means to said application so that when said handle is activated by means of a pointing device, said window associated with said application will be displayed as a foreground window on said desktop. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification