Automatic window representation adjustment

• US 7,146,573 B2
• Filed: 01/28/2002
• Issued: 12/05/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/28/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LinkedIn Corporation (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Lawrence, Kelvin Roderick, Hately, Andrew Douglas
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Kieu D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEE, TING ZHOU
• Application Number:
  US10/058,772
• Publication Number:
  US 20030142139A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,772 Days
• Field of Search: 345/788, 345/794, 345/795, 345/797, 345/790, 715/795, 715/778, 715/779, 715/781, 715/794, 715/783, 715/797, 715/802, 715/788, 715/768
• US Class Current: 715/802
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04804 Transparency, e.g. transparent or translucent windows
• 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: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/30 Control of display attribute

Abstract

A method, system, and program for automatically adjusting window representations based on activity are provided. Current activity of a window element displayed within a graphical interface is detected. A representation of the window element is automatically adjusted within the display area to reflect current activity of the window element, such that the representation of the window element is graphically represented. In particular, the window element representation may include a minimized icon or an open window. Further, window element activity may include use of the window element, adjustments to the transparency of the window element representation or current resource usage associated with the window element.

Claims

1. A method for automatic window representation adjustment, said method comprising the steps of:

detecting a separate level of current activity performed by at least one component of a computer system in association with each of a plurality of window elements within a graphical interface;

automatically performing at least one of minimizing at least one of said plurality of window elements and maximizing at least one of said plurality of window elements as triggered by an adjustment to at least one said separate level of current activity in relation to a threshold level for said current activity, such that a representation of each of said plurality of window elements is graphically represented, wherein minimizing said window element when said separate level of current activity adjusts less than a threshold level comprises reducing said window element from a graphical window to a graphical icon representing said graphical window, wherein maximizing said window element when said separate level of current activity adjusts greater than a threshold level comprises increasing said window element from a minimized graphical icon representing said window element to a full graphical window;

automatically adjusting a position of each of said plurality of window elements within a z-order of a plurality of windows displayed within said graphical interface to reflect said graphical representation of each of said plurality of window elements ordered according to each said separate level of current activity; and

displaying within a separate window element within said graphical interface a graphical representation of each of said plurality of window elements ordered according to each said separate level of current activity.

2. The method for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 1, said step of automatically performing further comprising the step of:

automatically adjusting a size of said at least one of said plurality of window elements when performing one of minimizing at least one of said plurality of window elements and maximizing at least one of said plurality of window elements to a preselected size specified by a user in a selection of preferences designated in association with performing one of minimizing at least one of said plurality of window elements and maximizing at least one of said plurality of window elements as triggered by an adjustment to at least one said separate level of current activity in relation to said threshold level for said current activity.

3. The method for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 1, said step of detecting a separate level of current activity further comprising the step of:

detecting a separate level of current use of each of said plurality of window elements through user interactions with each of said plurality of window elements.

4. The method for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 1, said step of detecting a separate level of current activity further comprising the step of:

detecting a transparency of each separate representation of each of said plurality of window elements.

5. The method for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 1, said method further comprising:

detecting each said separate level of current activity in association with each of said plurality of windows elements displayed within said graphical interface; and

adjusting a separate alpha level associated with each of said plurality of window elements to order said plurality of window elements to reflect each said separate level of said current activity.

6. The method for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 5, said method further comprising the step of:

adjusting a separate alpha level of a selection of said plurality of window elements that are minimized representations of a plurality of windows.

7. The method for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 5, said method further comprising the step of:

performing at least one of minimizing and maximizing each of said plurality of window elements in response to adjusting each said separate alpha level of each of said plurality of window elements.

8. A system for automatic window representation adjustment, said system comprising:

a graphical user interface;

means for detecting a separate level of current activity performed by at least one component of a computer system in association with each of a plurality of window elements within said graphical interface;

means for automatically performing at least one of minimizing at least one of said plurality of window elements and maximizing at least one of said plurality of window elements as triggered by an adjustment to at least one said separate level of current activity in relation to a threshold level for said current activity, such that a representation of each of said plurality of window elements is graphically represented, wherein minimizing said window element when said separate level of current activity adjusts less than a threshold level comprises reducing said window element from a graphical window to a graphical icon representing said graphical window, wherein maximizing said window element when said separate level of current activity adjusts greater than a threshold level comprises increasing said window element from a minimized graphical icon representing said window element to a full graphical window;

means for automatically adjusting a position of each of said plurality of window elements within a z-order of a plurality of windows displayed within said graphical interface to reflect said graphical representation of each of said plurality of window elements ordered according to each said separate level of current activity; and

means for displaying within a separate window element within said graphical interface a graphical representation of each of said plurality of window elements ordered according to each said separate level of current activity.

9. The system for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 8, said means for automatically performing further comprising:

means for automatically adjusting a size of said at least one of said plurality of window elements when performing one of minimizing at least one of said plurality of window elements and maximizing at least one of said plurality of window elements to a preselected size specified by a user in a selection of preferences designated in association with performing one of minimizing at least one of said plurality of window elements and maximizing at least one of said plurality of window elements as triggered by an adjustment to at least one said separate level of current activity in relation to said threshold level for said current activity.

10. The system for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 8, said means for detecting a separate level of current activity further comprising:

means for detecting a separate level of current use of each of said plurality of window elements through user interactions with each of said plurality of window elements.

11. The system for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 8, said means for detecting a separate level of current activity further comprising:

means for detecting a transparency of each separate representation of each of said plurality of window elements.

12. The system for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 8, said system further comprising:

means for detecting each said separate level of current activity in association with each of said plurality of windows elements displayed within said graphical interface; and

means for adjusting a separate alpha level associated with each of said plurality of window elements to order said plurality of window elements to reflect each said separate level of said current activity.

13. The system for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 12, said system further comprising:

means for adjusting a separate alpha level of a selection of said plurality of window elements that are minimized representations of a plurality of windows.

14. The system for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 12, said system further comprising:

means for performing at least one of minimizing and maximizing each of said plurality of window elements in response to adjusting each said separate alpha level of each of said plurality of window elements.

15. A program for automatic window representation adjustment, residing on a computer storage medium having computer readable program code means, said program comprising:

means for detecting a separate level of current activity performed by at least one component of a computer system in association with each of a plurality of window elements within a graphical interface;

means for automatically controlling performance of at least one of minimizing at least one of said plurality of window elements and maximizing at least one of said plurality of window elements as triggered by an adjustment to at least one said separate level of current activity in relation to a threshold level for said current activity, such that a representation of each of said plurality of window elements is graphically represented, wherein minimizing said window element when said separate level of current activity adjusts less than a threshold level comprises reducing said window element from a graphical window to a graphical icon representing said graphical window, wherein maximizing said window element when said separate level of current activity adjusts greater than a threshold level comprises increasing said window element from a minimized graphical icon representing said window element to a full graphical window;

means for automatically controlling adjustment of a position of each of said plurality of window elements within a z-order of a plurality of windows displayed within said graphical interface to reflect said graphical representation of each of said plurality of window elements ordered according to each said separate level of current activity; and

means for controlling display within a separate window element within said graphical interface a graphical representation of each of said plurality of window elements ordered according to each said separate level of current activity.

16. The program for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 15, said program further comprising:

means for automatically adjusting a size of said at least one of said plurality of window elements when controlling performance of one of minimizing at least one of said plurality of window elements and maximizing at least one of said plurality of window elements to a preselected size specified by a user in a selection of preferences designated in association with performing one of minimizing at least one of said plurality of window elements and maximizing at least one of said plurality of window elements as triggered by an adjustment to at least one said separate level of current activity in relation to said threshold level for said current activity.

17. The program for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 16, said program further comprising:

means for detecting a separate level of current use of each of said plurality of window elements through user interactions with each of said plurality of window elements.

18. The program for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 15, said program further comprising:

means for detecting a transparency of each separate representation of each of said plurality of window elements.

19. The program for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 15, said program further comprising:

means for detecting each said separate level of current activity in association with each of said plurality of windows elements displayed within said graphical interface; and

means for controlling adjustment of a separate alpha level associated with each of said plurality of window elements to order said plurality of window elements to reflect each said separate level of said current activity.

20. The program for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 19, said program further comprising:

means for controlling adjustment of a separate alpha level of a selection of said plurality of window elements that are minimized representations of a plurality of windows.

21. The program for automatic window representation adjustment according to claim 19, said program further comprising:

means far controlling performance of at least one of minimizing and maximizing each of said plurality of window elements in response to adjusting each said separate alpha level of each of said plurality of window elements.