Data processor controlled display system with audio identifiers for overlapping windows in an interactive graphical user interface

• US 6,728,675 B1
• Filed: 06/03/1999
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Maddalozzo, John Jr., McBrearty, Gerald Francis, Shieh, Johnny Meng-Han
• Primary Examiner(s): ABEBE, DANIEL DEMELASH
• Application Number:
  US09/325,404
• Time in Patent Office: 1,790 Days
• Field of Search: 704/258, 704/260, 704/271, 704/272, 704/275, 345/340, 345/342, 345/352, 345/418, 434/116
• US Class Current: 704/258
• 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 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 13/00 Speech synthesis; Text to speech systems

Abstract

There is provided a user friendly display interface system for the interactive handling and sorting out of windows in complex window hierarchical graphical user interfaces. The system provides for the storage of a hierarchy of windows which are displayable to overlap each other in a selected order whereby a plurality of said windows are partially visible. Apparatus is provided for displaying on a display screen a plurality of these partially overlapping windows. A different audio identifier is provided and stored for each of these windows. Further apparatus is provided for moving around and positioning a pointing device, such as a cursor on the display screen, in combination with means responsive to the pointing device for announcing the audio identifier for each window which said pointing device enters. The pointing device may be a user controlled cursor, a stylus or even a finger in touch sensitive display systems. The audio identifier may conveniently be the name in the title bar of the window.

Claims

1. A computer controlled interactive display system comprising:

means for displaying on a display screen a hierarchy of windows which overlap each other whereby visual identifiers of a plurality of said windows are hidden,

means for providing an audio identifier for each window in said hierarchy,

means for positioning a pointing device on said display screen, and

means responsive to said pointing device for announcing the audio identifier for each window which said pointing device enters.

2. The display system of claim 1 wherein said pointing device is a user controlled cursor.

3. The display system of claim 1 wherein said pointing device is a stylus.

4. The display system of claim 1 wherein said audio identifier comprises at least a portion of the window name appearing in the title bar of the window.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said audio identifier comprises at least a portion of the window name appearing in the title bar of the window.

5. A method of identifying partially hidden windows in a computer controlled interactive display comprising:

displaying on a display screen a hierarchy of windows which overlap each other whereby visual identifiers of a plurality of said windows are hidden,

providing an audio identifier for each window in said hierarchy,

positioning a pointing device on said display screen, and

responsive to said positioning, announcing the audio identifier for each window which said pointing device enters.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said positioning of said pointing device is carried out through a user controlled cursor.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein said positioning of said pointing device is carried out through a user stylus.

9. A computer controlled display program having program code included on a computer readable medium for the interactive control of a display system comprising:

means for displaying on a display screen a hierarchy of windows which overlap each other whereby visual identifiers of a plurality of said windows are hidden,

means for providing an audio identifier for each window in said hierarchy,

means for positioning a pointing device on said display screen, and

means responsive to said pointing device for announcing the audio identifier for each window which said pointing device enters.

10. The computer program of claim 9 wherein said pointing device is a user controlled cursor.

11. The computer program of claim 9 wherein said pointing device is a stylus.

12. The computer program of claim 9 wherein said audio identifier comprises at least a portion of the window name appearing in the title bar of the window.