Method of and system for turning over a window that is laid over another window, and recording medium having program of turning over a window that is laid over another window

• US 6,628,310 B1
• Filed: 06/16/2000
• Issued: 09/30/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chapelle Planning Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Chapelle Planning Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Hiura, Takanori, Hiura, Katsuaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid, Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/594,713
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 345/776, 345/781, 345/782, 345/777, 345/778, 345/764
• US Class Current: 715/776
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor

Abstract

The present invention provides a method of turning over a window that is laid over another window in order to peek a content of another window that is laid under the window in a pseudo-three dimensional manner, in a multi-windows computer system. The method includes the steps of (a) selecting a first window from the multi-windows by placing an object on the first window; (b) clicking the object on the first window to initiate an operation of turning over; and (c) dragging the object toward a direction to which the first window is to be turned over so as to unveil a second window that is laid under the first window, whereby enabling to peek a content of the second window.

Claims

1. A method of turning over a window that is laid over another window in a multi-window computer system, in order to peek in a pseudo-three dimensional manner at a content of said another window that is laid under said window, said method comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a first window from said multi-windows by placing an object on said first window;

(b) clicking said object on said first window to initiate an operation of turning over; and

(c) dragging said object toward a direction to which said first window is to be turned over so as to unveil a second window that is laid under said first window, whereby enabling to peek at a content of said second window;

wherein said step (b) further comprises the steps of;

(b-1) clicking said object by placing it at any location on an appropriate area of said first window so as to start an operation of a turn-over function;

(b-2) evaluating a first location on said first window where said clicking is made; and

(b-3) setting an appropriate fulcrum in accordance with a result of said evaluation step;

wherein said step (c) further comprises the steps of;

(c-1) evaluating whether or not said object is dragged toward said fulcrum;

(c-2) if said object is dragged to a second location on said first window toward said fulcrum in the step (c-1), then calculating an amount of turning over said first window based on said first location and said second location; and

(c-3) turning over said first window toward said fulcrum in sequential manner in accordance with said calculated amount of turning over so that a movement of said first window is animated as if it is being rolled in a pseudo-three dimensional manner to unveil said second window that is laid under said first window.

2. A method of turning over a window according to claim 1, further comprising the step of:

(d) inactivating said operation of turning to put said first window in an initial state thereof, thereby veiling said second window as being laid under said first window.

3. A method of turning over a window according to claim 1, wherein said appropriate area is any part of a frame of said first window, and wherein said step (b-3) includes at least one of the steps of:

(b-3-1) if it is clicked at a corner of said first window in the step (b-3), then as said fulcrum, setting a point at which two lines intersect at right angle to each other in a right triangle such that a hypotenuse thereof is formed by a diagonal from said clicked corner to an opposite corner thereof; and

(b-3-2) if it is clicked at a side of said first window in the step (b-3), then as said fulcrum, setting a center of an opposite side of said clicked side.

4. A method of turning over a window according to claim 1, wherein said appropriate area consists of a plurality of blocks, said plurality of blocks covering an entire area of said first window.

5. A method of turning over a window according to claim 4, wherein said appropriate area consists of four blocks, said four blocks covering an entire area of said first window, and wherein said four blocks include a first block having a first vertex of said first window, a second block having a second vertex of said first window, and a third block having a third vertex of said first window, and a fourth block having a fourth vertex of said first window,

wherein said step (b-3) includes any one of the steps of:

(b-3-1) if it is clicked on said first block in the step (b), setting said first vertex as a starting point and setting said fourth vertex as said fulcrum;

(b-3-2) if it is clicked on said second block in the step (b), setting said second vertex as a starting point and setting said third vertex as said fulcrum;

(b-3-3) if it is clicked on said third block in the step (b), setting said third vertex as a starting point and setting said second vertex as said fulcrum; and

(b-3-4) if it is clicked on said fourth block in the step (b), setting said fourth vertex as a starting point and setting said first vertex as said fulcrum.

6. A system for turning over a window that is laid over another window in a multi-windows computer system, in order peek in a pseudo-three dimensional manner at a content of said another window that is laid under said window, said system comprising:

(a) an input means for selecting a first window from said multi-windows by placing an object on said first window, and for clicking said object on said first window to initiate an operation of turning over; and

(b) a control means for controlling said operation of turning over in accordance with said input means by dragging said object toward a direction to which said first window is to be turned over so as to unveil a second window that is laid under said first window, whereby enabling to peek at a content of said second window;

wherein said control means includes;

(b-1) means for clicking said object by placing it at any location on an appropriate area of said first window with said input means so as to start an operation of a turn-over function;

(b-2) means for evaluating a first location on said first window where said clicking is made;

(b-3) means for setting an appropriate fulcrum in accordance with a result of said evaluation step;

(b-4) means for evaluating whether or not said input means is dragged toward said fulcrum;

(b-5) means for calculating an amount of turning over said first window based on said first location and said second location if said input means is dragged to a second location on said first window toward said fulcrum in the step (b-4); and

(b-6) means for turning over said first window toward said fulcrum insequential manner in accordance with said calculated amount of turning over so that a movement of said first window is animated as if it is being rolled in a pseudo-three dimensional manner to unveil said second window that is laid under said first window.

7. A system for turning over a window according to claim 6, wherein said system further comprises:

(c) means for inactivating said operation of turning in accordance with said input means to put said first window in an initial state thereof, thereby veiling said second window as being laid under said first window.

8. A system for turning over a window according to claim 6, wherein said appropriate area is any part of a frame of said first window, and

wherein said means for setting said appropriate area includes at least one of:

(b-3-1) means for setting a point at which two lines intersect at right angle to each other in a right triangle as said fulcrum such that a hypotenuse thereof is formed by a diagonal from said clicked corner to an opposite corner thereof, if it is clicked at a corner of said first window in the step (b-3); and

(b-3-2) means for setting a center of an opposite side of said clicked side as said fulcrum, if it is clicked at a side of said first window in the step (b-3).

9. A system for turning over a window according to claim 6, wherein said appropriate area consists of a plurality of blocks, said plurality of blocks covering an entire area of said first window.

10. A system for turning a window according to claim 9, wherein said appropriate area consists of four blocks, said four blocks covering an entire area of said first window, and wherein said four blocks include a first block having a first vertex of said first window, a second block having a second vertex of said first window, and a third block having a third vertex of said first window, and a fourth block having a fourth vertex of said first window,

wherein said means for setting said appropriate area includes any one of:

(b-3-1) means for setting said first vertex as a starting point and setting said fourth vertex as said fulcrum if it is clicked on said first block in the step (b);

(b-3-2) means for setting said second vertex as a starting point and setting said third vertex as said fulcrum if it is clicked on said second block in the step (b);

(b-3-3) means for setting said third vertex as a starting point and setting said second vertex as said fulcrum if it is clicked on said third block in the step (b); and

(b-3-4) means for setting said fourth vertex as a starting point and setting said first vertex as said fulcrum if it is clicked on said fourth block in the step (b).

11. A recording medium having a program that is laid over another window in a multi-window computer system, in order to peek in a pseudo-three dimensional manner at a content of said another window that is laid under said window, said program comprising the steps of:

(a) selecting a first window from said multiple windows by placing an object on said first window;

(b) clicking said object on said first window to initiate an operation of turning over; and

(c) dragging said object toward a direction to which said first window is to be turned over so as to unveil a second window that is laid under said first window, whereby enabling to peek at a content of said second window;

wherein said step (b) further comprises the steps of;

(b-1) clicking said object by placing it at any location on an appropriate area of said first window so as to start an operation of a turn-over function;

(b-2) evaluating a first location on said first window where said clicking is made; and

(b-3) setting an appropriate fulcrum in accordance with a result of said evaluation step;

wherein said step (c) further comprises the steps of;

(c-1) evaluating whether or not said object is dragged toward said fulcrum;

(c-2) if said object is dragged to a second location on said first window toward said fulcrum in the step (c-1), then calculating an amount of turningover said first window based on said first location and said second location; and

(c-3) turning over said first window toward said fulcrum in a sequential manner in accordance with said calculated amount of turning over so that a movement of said first window is animated as if it is being rolled in a pseudo-three dimensional manner to unveil said second window that is laid under said first window.

12. A recording medium having a program according to claim 11, said program further comprising the step of:

(d) inactivating said operation of turning to put said first window in an initial state thereof, thereby veiling said second window as being laid under said first window.

13. A recording medium having a program according to claim 11, wherein said appropriate area is any part of a frame of said first window, and

wherein said step (b-3) includes at least one of the steps of:

(b-3-1) if it is clicked at a comer of said first window in the step (b-3), then as said fulcrum, setting a point at which two lines intersect at right angle to each other in a right triangle such that a hypotenuse thereof is formed by a diagonal from said clicked corner to an opposite corner thereof; and

(b-3-2) if it is clicked at a side of said first window in the step (b-3), then as said fulcrum, setting a center of an opposite side of said clicked side.

14. A recording medium having a program according to claim 11, wherein said appropriate area consists of a plurality of blocks, said plurality of blocks covering an entire area of said first window.

15. A recording medium having a program according to claim 14, wherein said appropriate area consists of four blocks, said four blocks covering an entire area of said first window, and wherein said four blocks include a first block having a first vertex of said first window, a second block having a second vertex of said first window, and a third block having a third vertex of said first window, and a fourth block having a fourth vertex of said first window,

wherein said step (b-3) includes any one of the steps of:

(b-3-1) if it is clicked on said first block in the step (b), setting said first vertex as a starting point and setting said fourth vertex as said fulcrum;

(b-3-2) if it is clicked on said second block in the step (b), setting said second vertex as a starting point and setting said third vertex as said fulcrum;

(b-3-3) if it is clicked on said third block in the step (b), setting said third vertex as a starting point and setting said second vertex as said fulcrum; and

(b-3-4) if it is clicked on said fourth block in the step (b), setting said fourth vertex as a starting point and setting said first vertex as said fulcrum.