Method and system for displaying non-overlapping program and auxiliary windows
First Claim
1. A computer system comprising:
- means for intercepting a non-context-sensitive user request for auxiliary information;
means for determining an active window from among one or more open windows, the active window displaying an application program output of an application program;
means for making the user request context-sensitive and associating the auxiliary information with the application program based on the determination the active window;
first display means having a predetermined first display area dedicated to displaying of an application program output;
second display means having a predetermined second display area dedicated to displaying auxiliary information related to the application program; and
means, responsive to the application program, for separately routing the application program output exclusively to the first display area and the auxiliary information exclusively to the second display area so that display of the auxiliary information never overlaps or conceals display of the application program output.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
When a user wants to display application program status information or invoke a help function (either manually or automatically), a context-sensitive status or help display is provided that is either physically or virtually separate from the application program display. That is, the status or help display does not conceal or otherwise interfere with the main output of the application program. With this arrangement, the user is not inconvenienced by invoking a status request or help functions, nor is the user distracted by its display. The status or help information may be displayed in a portion of a single screen that does not overlap with the active window of the application program (a virtually separate display). Alternatively, a physically separate auxiliary display may be provided for display of the status or help information.
-
Citations
22 Claims
-
1. A computer system comprising:
-
means for intercepting a non-context-sensitive user request for auxiliary information; means for determining an active window from among one or more open windows, the active window displaying an application program output of an application program; means for making the user request context-sensitive and associating the auxiliary information with the application program based on the determination the active window; first display means having a predetermined first display area dedicated to displaying of an application program output; second display means having a predetermined second display area dedicated to displaying auxiliary information related to the application program; and means, responsive to the application program, for separately routing the application program output exclusively to the first display area and the auxiliary information exclusively to the second display area so that display of the auxiliary information never overlaps or conceals display of the application program output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method for displaying auxiliary information to prevent overlap with display of an application program output associated with an application program, the method comprising the steps of:
-
intercepting a non-context-sensitive user request for the auxiliary information; determining an active window from among one or more open windows, the active window displaying the application program output; making the user request context-sensitive and associating the auxiliary information with the application program based on the determination of the active window; routing and displaying the application program output to a first dedicated display area that does not display the auxiliary information; and separately routing the auxiliary information to a second dedicated display area that does not display the application program output, so that display of the auxiliary information never overlaps or conceals display of the application program output. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
-
Specification