Undockable sub-windows

• US 6,765,592 B1
• Filed: 04/30/1999
• Issued: 07/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Pletcher, Richard A., Smith, Curtis D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Cabeca, John
• Assistant Examiner(s): DETWILER, BRIAN J
• Application Number:
  US09/302,476
• Time in Patent Office: 1,908 Days
• Field of Search: 345/760, 345/764, 345/769, 345/772, 345/774-5, 345/778-9, 345/781, 345/783, 345/788, 345/790-7, 345/803-8, 707/513
• US Class Current: 715/760
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A system, method, and medium are disclosed for undocking content from a window into sub-windows. The undocked sub-windows may be redocked to the parent window. The sub-windows may continue to exist after an application providing the window has been closed.

Claims

1. A method for undocking content from a window in an application said window displaying a document in HTML, comprising:

displaying said document in said window, said document being associated with a host address location and said document including at least an HTML delimiter designating undockable content therein;

receiving a user input indicating that said undockable content is to be undocked from said window;

undocking said undockable content of said document from said window into a sub-window so as to display said undockable content for independent movement and manipulation from said window; and

altering said window;

wherein said application is a web browser and said altering step includes navigating said web browser to a new host address location including additional undockable content different from said undockable content;

further including a step of docking said sub-window back into said window of said web browser upon receiving user input;

wherein upon docking said sub-window, said undockable content of said sub-window is updated to reflect any changes in the undockable content of said window.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said undockable content is selected from a group comprising a computer readable image or a computer readable text character.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein said displaying step includes displaying a graphical object associated with said undockable content.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein said step of docking said sub-window back into said window of said web browser includes a step of displaying said sub-window.

5. A method for undocking content from a window in an application, said window displaying a document in HTML, comprising:

displaying said document in said window, said document being associated with a host address location and said document including at least an HTML delimiter designating undockable content therein;

receiving a user input indicating that said undockable content is to be undocked from said window;

undocking said undockable content of said document from said window into a sub-window so as to display said undockable content for independent movement and manipulation from said window; and

altering said window;

wherein said application is a web browser and said altering step includes navigating said web browser to a new host address location including additional undockable content different from said undockable content further including a step of docking said sub-window back into said window of said web browser upon receiving user input;

wherein upon docking said sub-window, said undockable content of said sub-window replaces any changes in content of said window.

6. The method according to claim 5, wherein said undockable content is selected from a group comprising a computer readable image or a computer readable text character.

7. The method according to claim 5, wherein said displaying step includes displaying a graphical object associated with said undockable content.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein said step of docking said sub-window back into said window of said web browser includes a step of displaying said sub-window.

9. A user interface for undocking content from a window including:

a first display portion representing said window of an open application, said window containing a first content section;

a second display portion comprising a sub-window containing said first content section, said second display portion being displayed in response to a user input requesting separation of said first content section from said window;

wherein said second display portion retains said content after said application has been closed wherein said second display portion is separated from said first display portion after a predetermined period of elapsed time.

10. The user interface according to claim 9, wherein said first content section is selected from a group comprising a computer readable image or a computer readable text character.

11. The user interface according to claim 9, wherein said open application comprises a browser application.

12. The user interface according to claim 9, wherein said first content section includes computer readable data from an application different from said open application.

13. The user interface according to claim 9, wherein said first content section includes computer readable data from a host address on a computer network.

14. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions thereon for a method of undocking content from a window in an application, said window displaying a document in HTML, the method comprising:

displaying said document in said window, said document being associated with a host address location and said document including at least an HTML delimiter designating undockable content therein;

receiving a user input indicating that said undockable content is to be undocked from said window;

undocking said undockable content of said document from said window into a sub-window so as to display said undockable content for independent movement and manipulation from said window; and

altering said window;

wherein said application is a web browser and said altering step includes navigating said web browser to a new host address location including additional undockable content different from said undockable content;

further including a step of docking said sub-window back into said window of said web browser upon receiving user input;

wherein upon docking said sub-window, said undockable content of said sub-window is updated to reflect any changes in the undockable content of said window.

15. The computer readable medium according to claim 14, wherein said undockable content is selected from a group comprising a computer readable image or a computer readable text character.

16. The computer readable medium according to claim 14, wherein said displaying step includes displaying a graphical object associated with said undockable content.

17. The computer readable medium according to claim 14, wherein said step of docking said sub-window back into said window of said web browser includes a step of displaying said sub-window.

18. A computer readable medium having computer executable instructions thereon for a method for undocking content from a window in an application, said window displaying a document in HTML, comprising:

displaying said document in said window, said document being associated with a host address location and said document including at least an HTML delimiter designating undockable content therein;

receiving a user input indicating that said undockable content is to be undocked from said window;

undocking said undockable content of said document from said window into a sub-window so as to display said undockable content for independent movement and manipulation from said window; and

altering said window;

wherein said application is a web browser and said altering step includes navigating said web browser to a new host address location including additional undockable content different from said undockable content;

further including a step of docking said sub-window back into said window of said web browser upon receiving user input;

wherein upon docking said sub-window, said undockable content of said sub-window replaces any changes in content of said window.

19. The computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein said undockable content is selected from a group comprising a computer readable image or a computer readable text character.

20. The computer readable medium according to claim 18, wherein said displaying step includes displaying a graphical object associated with said undockable content.