Computer interface having a single window mode of operation
First Claim
1. A user interface for a computer in which data pertaining to multiple different tasks is displayed in multiple different task windows, respectively, and including a user-selectable mode of operation in which only an active one of the multiple task windows is normally displayed at a time, and a minimized representation is provided for all non-active task windows.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A computer-human interface manages the available space of a computer display in a manner which reduces clutter and confusion caused by multiple open windows. The interface includes a user-selectable mode of operation in which only those windows associated with the currently active task are displayed on the computer monitor. All other windows relating to non-active tasks are minimized by reducing them in size or replacing them with a representative symbol, such as an icon, so that they occupy a minimal amount of space on the monitor'"'"'s screen. When a user switches from the current task to a new task, by selecting a minimized window, the windows associated with the current task are automatically minimized as the window pertaining to the new task is displayed at its normal size. As a result, the user is only presented with the window that relates to the current task of interest, and clutter provided by non-active tasks is removed.
225 Citations
39 Claims
- 1. A user interface for a computer in which data pertaining to multiple different tasks is displayed in multiple different task windows, respectively, and including a user-selectable mode of operation in which only an active one of the multiple task windows is normally displayed at a time, and a minimized representation is provided for all non-active task windows.
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14. A method for displaying data to users in a computer system, comprising the steps of:
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providing a plurality of windows which function as containers for the data of a plurality of different tasks, respectively;
displaying the window of data for an active one of the tasks and displaying a minimized representation for the window of each inactive task;
detecting the selection of a task other than the active task;
replacing the display of the window for the active task with a minimized representation for that window and displaying the window for the selected task, in response to said selection;
detecting a modified selection of a task other than the active task, and overriding the replacement of the window for the active task with a minimized representation, to thereby display the window for a previously active task concurrently with the window for the selected task. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A computer-readable medium containing program code for a user interface which executes the steps of:
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providing a plurality of windows which function as containers for the data of a plurality of different tasks, respectively;
displaying the window of data for an active one of the tasks and displaying a minimized representation for the window of each inactive task;
detecting the selection of a task other than the active task;
replacing the display of the window for the active task with a minimized representation for that window and displaying the window for the selected task, in response to said selection;
detecting a modified selection of a task other than the active task, and overriding the replacement of the window for the active task with a minimized representation, to thereby display the window for a previously active task concurrently with the window for the selected task. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A user interface for a computer system, comprising:
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a control element that is accessed by a user to select a single-window mode of operation; and
a window manager which controls a display device to display a plurality of windows that function as containers for the data of a plurality of different tasks, respectively, and which is responsive to the selection of the single-window mode of operation to display a minimized representation of each window associated with an inactive task and remove the display of each such window, and which is responsive to the selection of a task other than the active task during the single window mode of operation to replace the display of the window for the active task with a minimized representation for that window and to display the window for the selected task. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39)
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Specification