Dynamic multiple window display having independently linked windows

• US 7,188,317 B1
• Filed: 06/13/2001
• Issued: 03/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hazel, Thomas G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kincaid; Kristine
• Assistant Examiner(s): VU, THANH T
• Application Number:
  US09/880,504
• Time in Patent Office: 2,092 Days
• Field of Search: 345/804, 345/802, 345/803, 345/805, 345/841, 345/853, 345/854, 345/855
• US Class Current: 715/804
• 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: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A first primary display window displays first primary objects linked to a scope window. A second primary display window displays second primary objects linked to the scope window. The second primary objects are independent of the first primary objects. One or more secondary display windows display secondary objects linked to one of the primary display windows. A secondary display window may be linked to the scope window so that the secondary objects displayed in the secondary display window are linked to the scope window. Data to create a window may be query-driven and the window type may be data-driven. Window type may be changed after creation and windows may be docked to each other to prevent overlap. Windows may link back to the scope window.

Claims

1. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

forming a scope window displaying in a hierarchical structure a plurality of scope items therein;

allowing a user to select a particular displayed scope item in the scope window;

receiving from a user and/or an administrator a first set of instructions changing content of the particular selected scope item by defining one or more first primary objects to be displayed in a first primary display window;

forming the first primary display window in response to the particular selected scope item and in response to the first set of instructions for displaying the one or more first primary objects in the first primary display window, said first primary display window being different from said scope window;

receiving from the user and/or administrator a second set of instructions changing the content of the particular selected scope item by defining one or more second primary objects to be displayed in a second primary display window, wherein the first set of instructions is independent of the second set of instructions so that the one or more first primary objects displayed in the first primary display window are independent of the one or more second primary objects displayed in the second primary display window;

forming the second primary display window in response to the particular selected scope item and in response to the second set of instructions for displaying the one or more second primary objects in the second primary display window, said second primary display window being different from said scope window and said first primary display window; and

linking the first primary objects to the scope window independently of the second primary objects to the scope window, and wherein the scope window persists displaying scope items in the scope window after the forming of the first primary display window and the second primary display window.

2. The computer storage medium of claim 1, having further computer-executable instructions for receiving from the user and/or administrator a third set of instructions changing the content of the particular selected scope item by defining one or more third primary objects to be displayed in a third primary display window, said third set of instructions being independent of the first set of instructions and the second set of instructions and for performing the step of forming the third primary display window in response to the particular selected scope item and in response to the third set of instructions for displaying third primary objects linked to the scope window wherein the third primary objects are independent of the first primary objects and wherein the third primary objects are independent of the second primary objects, wherein said third primary display window being different from the scope window, the first primary display window, and the second primary display window.

3. The computer storage medium of claim 1, having further computer-executable instructions for:

allowing a user to select at least one of the displayed first primary objects in the first primary display window;

forming a first secondary display window in response to the selected first primary object for displaying first secondary objects which are dynamically linked to the first primary display window, said first secondary display window being different from the first primary display window; and

forming a second secondary display window in response to the selected first primary object for displaying second secondary objects which are dynamically linked to the first primary display window wherein the second secondary objects are independent of the first secondary objects, said second secondary display window being different from the first primary display window and the first secondary display window.

4. The computer storage medium of claim 3, having further computer-executable instructions for forming a third secondary display window in response to the selected first primary object for displaying third secondary objects which are dynamically linked to the first primary display window wherein the third secondary objects are independent of the first secondary objects and wherein the third secondary objects are independent of the second secondary objects, wherein said third secondary display window being different from first primary display window, the first secondary display window, and the second secondary display window.

5. The computer storage medium of claim 1, having further computer-executable instructions for:

forming a first secondary display window displaying first secondary objects linked to the first primary display window, wherein the scope window displays and focuses on a selected one of the displayed first secondary objects; and

dynamically linking the first secondary display window to the scope window so that a command or selection in the first secondary display window changes the focus or content of the scope window, said first secondary display window being different from the scope window and the first primary display window.

6. The computer storage medium of claim 1, wherein linking comprises linking being defined by an application developer or a user so that parameters are passed from the scope window to the first primary display window and wherein the passed parameters are used in a query to provide data to the first primary display window which determines how it will be displayed.

7. The computer storage medium of claim 6, wherein the query operates on a database to display a selected set of the first primary objects in the first primary display window.

8. The computer storage medium of claim 1, wherein the scope window, the first primary display window and the second primary display window form a workspace view which is saved either as a local view on a local drive or as a global view in a database shared by multiple users.

9. The computer storage medium of claim 1, wherein allowing a user to select at least one displayed scope item in the scope window, having further computer-executable instructions for:

linking independently the first primary objects to the selected scope item; and

linking independently the second primary objects to the selected scope item.

10. The computer storage medium of claim 9, having further computer-executable instructions for forming a third primary display window displaying third primary objects linked to the selected scope item wherein the third primary objects are independent of the first primary objects and wherein the third primary objects are independent of the second primary objects.

11. The computer storage medium of claim 9, having further computer-executable instructions for:

allowing a user to select at least one first primary object in the first primary display window;

forming a first secondary display window displaying first secondary objects linked to the selected first primary object, said first secondary display window being different from the first primary display window; and

forming a second secondary display window displaying second secondary objects linked to the selected first primary object wherein the second secondary objects are independent of the first secondary objects said second secondary display window being different from said first primary display window, and the first secondary display window.

12. The computer storage medium of claim 11, having further computer-executable instructions for forming a third secondary display window displaying third secondary objects linked to the selected first primary object wherein the third secondary objects are independent of the first secondary objects and wherein the third secondary objects are independent of the second secondary objects.

13. The computer storage medium of claim 11 wherein the user selects at least one first primary object in the first display window, and said computer storage medium having further computer-executable instructions for:

forming a first secondary display window displaying first secondary objects linked to the selected first primary object; and

linking the first secondary display window to the scope window so that the first secondary objects displayed in the first secondary display window are linked to the selected scope item in the scope window.

14. The computer storage medium of claim 1, having further computer-executable instructions for defining window types, wherein the scope window, the first primary display window, and second primary display window are associated with one of the window types.

15. The computer storage medium of claim 14, wherein the window types include one or more of the following:

a table, a graph, a list, a list control, a topological view, and a text window.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 15, having further computer-executable instructions for allowing a user to convert one or more of the following from one of the window types to another of the window types:

the scope window;

the first primary display window; and

the second primary display window.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 1, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of defining window types as a function of data driven from a query, wherein the type of driven data determines the window type.

18. A computer storage medium having stored thereon a data structure, comprising:

a scope window displaying in a hierarchical structure a plurality of scope items therein and allowing a user to select a particular displayed scope item;

a first primary display window displaying one or more first primary objects which are dynamically linked to the particular selected scope item as defined by a first set of instructions specified by the user, said first set of instructions changes the content of the particular selected scope item, said scope window being different from said first primary display window; and

a second primary display window displaying one or more second primary objects which are dynamically linked to the particular selected scope item as defined by a second set of instructions specified by the user, said second set of instructions changes the content of the particular selected scope item, wherein the first set of instructions is independent of the second set of instructions so that linking the second primary objects to the selected scope items is independent of linking the first primary objects to the particular selected scope item, and wherein the scope window persists displaying scope items in the scope window after forming the first primary display window and the second primary display window, said second primary display window being different from said scope window and said first primary display window.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 18 wherein the user selects at least one first primary object in the first primary display window and further comprising:

a first secondary display window displaying first secondary objects linked to the selected first primary object, said first secondary display window being different from the first primary display window; and

a second secondary display window displaying second secondary objects linked to the selected first primary object wherein linking the second secondary objects to the selected first primary object is independent of linking between the first secondary objects to the selected first primary object, said second secondary display window being different from the second primary display window and the first secondary display window.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 18 wherein the user selects at least one first primary object in the first primary display window and further comprising:

a first secondary display window displaying first secondary objects linked to the first primary display window and linked to the scope window, said first secondary display window being different from the first primary display window and the scope window.

21. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method of providing a display comprising:

forming a scope window;

retrieving scope items for display in a hierarchical structure in the scope window;

allowing a user to select a particular scope item in the scope window;

receiving from the user a first set of instructions for changing the content of the particular selected scope item by defining one or more first primary objects to be displayed in a first primary display window;

forming the first primary display window in response to the particular selected scope item, said first primary display window being different from said scope window;

retrieving first primary objects, in response to the first set of instructions, which are dynamically linked to the scope window for display in the first primary display window;

receiving from the user a second set of instructions for changing the content of the selected scope item by defining one or more second primary objects to be displayed in a second primary display window;

forming the second primary display window in response to the particular selected scope item, said second primary display window being different from said scope window and said first primary display window; and

retrieving second primary objects, in response to the second set of instructions, which are dynamically linked to the scope window for display in the second primary display window wherein the first set of instructions is independent of the second set of instructions and the second primary objects are independent of the first primary objects, and wherein the scope window persists displaying scope items in the scope window after forming the first primary display window and the second primary display window.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

linking the retrieved first primary objects to the selected scope item to be displayed in the first display window;

linking the retrieved second primary objects to the selected scope item to be displayed in the second primary display window; and

wherein linking the retrieved first primary objects to the selected scope item is independent from linking the retrieved second primary objects to the selected scope item.

23. The method of claim 21 further comprising the step of forming a third primary display window displaying third primary objects linked to the scope window wherein the third primary objects are independent of the first primary objects and wherein the third primary objects are independent of the second primary objects, wherein said third primary display window being different from the scope window, the first primary display window, and the second primary display window.

24. The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

allowing a user to select at least one of the displayed first primary objects in the first primary display window;

forming a first secondary display window displaying first secondary objects linked to the first primary display window, said first secondary display window being different from the first primary display window; and

forming a second secondary display window displaying second secondary objects linked to the first primary display window wherein the second secondary objects are independent of the first secondary objects, said second secondary display window being different from the first primary display window and the first secondary display window.

25. The method of claim 24 further comprising the step of forming a third secondary display window displaying third secondary objects linked to the first primary display window wherein the third secondary objects are independent of the first secondary objects and wherein the third secondary objects are independent of the second secondary objects, said third secondary display window being different from the first primary display window and the first secondary display window.

26. The method of claim 21 further comprising the steps of:

forming a first secondary display window displaying first secondary objects linked to the first primary display window; and

linking the first secondary display window to the scope window, said first secondary display window being different from the first primary display window and the scope window.

27. A computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, said system comprising:

means for retrieving scope items in response to administrator and/or user input;

means for displaying the retrieved scope items in a scope window;

means for receiving from a user a first set of instructions for changing the content of the retrieved scope item by defining first primary objects to be displayed in a first primary display window and for receiving from the user a second set of instructions for changing the content of the retrieved scope item by defining second primary objects to be displayed in a second primary display window, said first primary display window being different from said scope window;

means for retrieving first primary objects linked to the scope window in response to administrator and/or user input and in response to the first set of instructions;

means for displaying the retrieved first primary objects in the first primary display window;

means for retrieving second primary objects linked to the scope window in response to administrator and/or user input and in response to the second set of instructions such that linking the second primary objects to the scope window is independent of linking the first primary objects to the scope window; and

means for displaying the retrieved second primary objects in the second primary display window, said second primary display window being different from said scope window and said first primary display window.

28. A method of allowing a user or an administrator to define windows comprising the steps of:

forming a scope window displaying in a hierarchical structure scope items therein in response to instructions from the user or administrator;

allowing a user to select a particular displayed scope item;

forming a first primary display window displaying first primary objects, said first primary display window being different from said scope window;

dynamically linking the first primary objects to the particular selected scope item in accordance with a first set of instructions from the user or administrator, said first set of instructions from the user or administrator changing the content of the particular selected scope item by defining the display of first primary objects in the first primary display window;

forming a second primary display window displaying second primary objects, said second primary display window being different from said scope window and said first primary display window; and

dynamically linking the second primary objects to the particular selected scope item in accordance with a second set of instructions from the user or administrator wherein the step of linking the second primary objects is independent of the step of linking the first primary objects, said first set of instructions and said second set of instructions from the user or administrator changing the content of the particular selected scope item by defining the display of second primary objects in the second primary display window, and wherein the scope window persists displaying scope items in the scope window after forming the first primary display window and the second primary display window.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein the step of linking the first primary objects to the scope window is defined by an application developer or a user so that parameters are passed from the scope window to the first primary display window and wherein the passed parameters are used in a query to control the display of the first primary objects in the first primary display window.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein the scope window, the first primary display window and the second primary display window form a workspace view which is saved either as a local view on a local drive or as a global view in a database shared by multiple users.

31. The method of claim 28 further comprising allowing a user to select at least one displayed scope item in the scope window, wherein the first primary objects are linked to the selected scope item, wherein the second primary objects are linked to the selected scope item, and wherein the step of linking the first primary objects to the selected scope item is independent of the step of linking the second primary objects to the selected scope item.

32. The method of claim 31 wherein the user selects at least one first primary object in the first primary display window and further performing the steps comprising:

forming a first secondary display window displaying first secondary objects linked to the selected first primary object, said first secondary display window being different from the first primary display window; and

forming a second secondary display window displaying second secondary objects linked to the selected first primary object wherein the second secondary objects are independent of the first secondary objects, said second secondary display window being different from the first primary display window and the first secondary display window.

33. The method of claim 32 further performing the step comprising forming a third secondary display window displaying third secondary objects linked to the selected first primary object wherein the third secondary objects are independent of the first secondary objects and wherein the third secondary objects are independent of the second secondary objects, wherein said third secondary display window being different from the first secondary display window and the second secondary display window.

34. The method of claim 31 wherein the user selects at least one first primary object in the first primary display window and further performing the steps comprising:

forming a first secondary display window displaying first secondary objects linked to the selected first primary object; and

linking the first secondary display window to the scope window so that the first secondary objects displayed in the first secondary display window are linked to the selected scope item in the scope window, said first secondary display window being different from the first primary display window.

35. A computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, said system comprising:

means for displaying a scope window;

means for permitting a user to select a particular item in the scope window;

means for displaying a first primary display window, said first primary display window being different from said scope window;

means for displaying a second primary display window, said second primary display window being different from said scope window and said first primary display window;

means for receiving from the user a first set of instructions for changing the content of the particular selected item by defining first primary objects to be displayed in the first primary display window and for receiving from the user a second set of instructions for changing the content of the particular selected item by defining second primary objects to be displayed in the second primary display window;

means for linking the first primary objects in the first primary display window to the scope window in response to the selected item by the user and in response to the first set of instructions; and

means for linking the second primary objects in the second primary display window to the scope window in response to the particular selected item by the user and in response to the second set of instructions, wherein the means for linking the first primary objects in the first primary display window to the scope window is independent of the means for linking the second primary objects in the second primary display window to the scope window, and wherein the means for displaying the scope window persists displaying scope items in the scope window after the first primary display window and the second primary display window are displayed.

36. The system of claim 35 further comprising:

means for displaying a first secondary display window, said first secondary display window being different from the first primary display window;

means for permitting a user to select an item in the first primary display window;

means for linking the first secondary display window to the first primary display window in response to the selected item by the user;

means for displaying a second secondary display window, said second secondary display window being different from the first primary display window and the first secondary display window; and

means for linking the second secondary display window to the first primary display window in response to the selected item by the user, wherein the means for linking the first secondary display window to the first primary display window is independent of the means for linking the second secondary display window to the first primary display window.

37. The system of claim 35 further comprising:

means for displaying a first secondary display window;

means for linking the first secondary display window to the first primary display window; and

means for linking the first secondary display window to the scope window.

38. The system of claim 35 wherein means for linking the second primary display window to the scope window comprises means for linking the second primary display window to the scope window in response to the particular selected item.

39. A computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, said system comprising:

means for displaying a scope window;

means for permitting a user to select a particular item in the scope window;

means for displaying a first primary display window, said first primary display window being different from said scope window;

means for displaying a second primary display window, said second primary display window being different from said scope window and said first primary display window;

means for receiving from the user a first set of instructions for changing the content of the particular selected item by defining first primary objects to be displayed in the first primary display window and for receiving from the user a second set of instructions for changing the content of the particular selected item by defining second primary objects to be displayed in the second primary display window;

means for driving the first primary objects in the first primary display window off of the particular selected item in the scope window and based on the first set of instructions; and

means for driving the second primary objects in the second primary display window off of the particular selected item in the scope window and based on the second set of instructions, wherein the means for driving the first primary objects in the first primary window is independent of the means for driving the second primary objects in the second primary display window, and wherein the means for displaying the scope window persists displaying scope items in the scope window after the first primary display window and the second primary display window are displayed.

40. The system of claim 39 further comprising:

means for displaying a first secondary display window;

means for permitting a user to select an item in the first primary display window;

means for driving the first secondary display window off of the user selected item in the first primary display window, said first secondary display window being different from the first primary display window;

means for displaying a second secondary display window; and

means for driving the second secondary display window off of the user selected item in the first primary display window, wherein the means for driving the first secondary display window is independent of the means for driving the second secondary display window, said second secondary display window being different from the first primary display window and the first secondary display window.

41. The system of claim 39 further comprising:

means for displaying a first secondary display window;

means for driving the first secondary display window off of a user selected item in the first primary display window; and

means for linking the first secondary display window to the scope window, the first secondary display window being different from the first primary display window and the scope window.

42. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

forming a scope window displaying in a hierarchical structure scope items therein;

allowing a user to select at least one of the scope items in the scope window;

specifying a first set of instructions changing the content of the particular selected scope item by defining first primary objects to be displayed in a first primary display window;

forming the first primary display window in response to the first set of instructions for displaying the first primary objects which are dynamically linked to the scope window, said first primary display window being different from said scope window;

allowing the user to select at least one of the first primary objects in the first primary display window;

forming the first secondary display window displaying first secondary objects in response to the selected first primary objects and in response to the first set of instructions which are dynamically linked to the first primary display window, said first secondary display window being different from said scope window and said first primary display window;

allowing the user to select at least one of the first secondary objects in the first secondary display window;

specifying a second set of instructions changing the content of the particular selected scope item by defining first secondary objects to be displayed in a first secondary display window; and

dynamically linking the first secondary objects in the first secondary display window to the scope window in response to the second set of instructions so that the first secondary objects in the first secondary display window communicate with the scope window by focusing on the selected first secondary objects in the scope window, wherein the communication is independent of the communication between the first primary display window and the scope window.

43. The computer storage medium of claim 42, having further computer-executable instructions for:

assigning a particular object within the first secondary display window with a task list;

sharing the assigned task list with other objects in the scope window;

permitting the user to execute a new task on the particular object; and

executing the new task on the other objects.

44. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing a method comprising:

forming a scope window displaying in a hierarchical structure scope items therein;

allowing a user to select at least one of the scope items in the scope window;

receiving from the user a first set of instructions for changing the content of the particular selected scope item by defining first primary objects to be displayed in a first primary display window;

forming the first primary display window displaying the first primary objects in response to the at least one particular selected scope item and in response to the first set of instructions, said first primary display window being different from said scope window;

allowing a user to select at least one of the first primary objects in the first primary display window;

receiving from the user a second set of instructions for changing the content of the particular selected scope item by defining first secondary objects to be displayed in a first secondary display window;

forming the first secondary display window displaying the first secondary objects which are dynamically linked to the first primary display window in response to a selection of one or more first primary objects in the first primary display window and in response to the second set of instructions, said first secondary display window being different from said scope window and said first primary display window;

allowing a user to select at least one of the first secondary objects in the first secondary display window; and

dynamically linking the first secondary objects in the first secondary display window to the scope window so that a command or selection by a user in the first secondary display window changes the focus or content of the scope window according to the selection or command.

45. A computer storage medium having computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising:

forming a scope window displaying in a hierarchical structure scope items therein;

specifying a first set of instructions changing the content of the selected scope item by defining first primary objects to be displayed in a first primary display window;

forming the first primary display window displaying the first primary objects in response to the first set of instructions so that the first primary objects in the first primary display window are dynamically linked to the scope window, said first primary display window being different from said scope window; and

specifying a second set of instructions changing the content of the particular selected scope item by defining second primary objects to be displayed in a second primary display window;

forming the second primary display window displaying the second primary objects in response to the second set of instructions so that the second primary objects in the second primary display window are dynamically linked to the scope window, said second primary display window being different from said scope window and said first primary display window; and

defining window types of the first primary display window and of the second primary display window as a function of data driven from a query, wherein the driven data determines the window types.

46. The computer storage medium of claim 45, having further computer-executable instructions for performing the step of allowing a user to convert the scope window, the first primary display window, and/or second primary display window from one window type to another window type.

47. The computer storage medium of claim 46, wherein the window types include one or more of the following:

a table, a graph, a list, a list control, a topological view, and a text window.