Method for the simultaneous non-overlapping representation of at least two data visualization windows in a display area of a monitor of a data processing installation

• US 7,149,968 B1
• Filed: 01/21/2000
• Issued: 12/12/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Kaiser, Steffen, Ackerschewski, Torsten, Brandt, Christian Peter, Kueckmann, Otto, Schwabe, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Maikhanh
• Application Number:
  US10/181,719
• Time in Patent Office: 2,517 Days
• Field of Search: 715/517, 715/526, 715/790, 715/797, 715/788, 715/798, 345/418, 345/628, 345/635
• US Class Current: 715/255
• 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

Abstract

A method is provided for the simultaneous non-overlapping representation of at least further data visualization window in addition to a first established data visualization window in the display area of a monitor. The method allows arrangement of at least one further data visualization window in the display area of a monitor while maintaining the aspect ratio and the size thereof, beside a first data visualization window. Free rectangular areas of the first data visualization window are detected in the display area and are filed in a list with their characteristic data. The area of the free rectangular areas and their aspect ration and the aspect ration of the first data visualization window are taken into consideration for the determination of the optimizing variable. The additional data visualization window is positioned in the rectangular area with a priority in the derived list.

Claims

1. A method for displaying at least two data visualization windows on a display area of a monitor in a data processing installation operated within window applications, the method comprising:

displaying at least one existing data visualization window on said display area of said monitor;

displaying at least one additional data visualization window on said display area of said monitor, the at least one additional data visualization window having a prescribed area size and an aspect ratio; and

optimizing the position of the at least one additional data visualization window in response to a start command without changing the location of the existing data visualization window whereby the following steps are carried out;

ascertaining free rectangular areas on said display area, wherein a free rectangular area is such an area that is situated outside the at least one existing data visualization window,

storing the ascertained free rectangular areas with characteristic data in a list;

sorting the free rectangular areas by assessing the characteristic data using an optimization variable

which is calculated based on an area size and an aspect ratio of the free rectangular areas with respect to the aspect ratio of the at least one additional data visualization window, and producing a derived list; and

placing the at least one additional data visualization window without overlap next to the existing data visualization area in the rectangular area shown with priority in the derived list.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the size of the additional data visualization window is matched to a rectangular area in which it has been placed.

3. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein calculation of the optimization variable takes into account a distance between the additional data visualization window and the free rectangular areas.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein calculation of the optimization variable takes into account a distance between the additional data visualization window and the free rectangular areas.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the list is checked to determine whether at least one rectangular area included therein is a minimum size.