Using a zooming effect to provide additional display space for managing applications
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method for using a zooming effect to provide additional display space for application management, wherein the computer includes a processor, the method comprising:
- receiving a request from a user to provide additional display space in a display device for application management, wherein a display device presents an image of a computer desktop to the user; and
in response to the request,decreasing the size of the computer desktop in the display deviceto provide an extended display area,displaying an item in the extended display; and
displaying a user interface element in the extended display area, wherein by adjusting the user interface element in the extended display area, a user either zooms in to increase the display area of the desktop or zooms out to decrease the display area of the desktop, wherein increasing the display area of the desktop involves proportionally reducing the area of the extended display area and decreasing the display area of the desktop involves proportionally reducing the area of the extended display area.
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of the present invention provides a system that uses a zooming effect to provide additional display space to manage applications. In one mode of operation, the system presents an image of a computer desktop to the user on a display device. When the system receives a request from a user to provide additional display space in a display device for application management purposes, the system decreases the size of the computer desktop in the display device to provide an extended display area. The system then facilitates application management by displaying items useful for application management in this extended display area. By providing the extended display area, the system allows the user to access such items easily and efficiently without losing the context of the computer desktop.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method for using a zooming effect to provide additional display space for application management, wherein the computer includes a processor, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from a user to provide additional display space in a display device for application management, wherein a display device presents an image of a computer desktop to the user; and in response to the request, decreasing the size of the computer desktop in the display device to provide an extended display area, displaying an item in the extended display; and displaying a user interface element in the extended display area, wherein by adjusting the user interface element in the extended display area, a user either zooms in to increase the display area of the desktop or zooms out to decrease the display area of the desktop, wherein increasing the display area of the desktop involves proportionally reducing the area of the extended display area and decreasing the display area of the desktop involves proportionally reducing the area of the extended display area. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions that when executed by a computer cause the computer to perform a method for using a zooming effect to provide additional display space for application management, the method comprising:
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receiving a request from a user to provide additional display space in a display device for application management, wherein a display device presents an image of a computer desktop to the user; and in response to the request, decreasing the size of the computer desktop in the display device to provide an extended display area, displaying an item in the extended display area; and displaying a user interface element in the extended display area, wherein by adjusting the user interface element in the extended display area, a user either zooms in to increase the display area of the desktop or zooms out to decrease the display area of the desktop, wherein increasing the display area of the desktop involves proportionally reducing the area of the extended display area and decreasing the display area of the desktop involves proportionally reducing the area of the extended display area. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. An apparatus that uses a zooming effect to provide additional display space for application management, comprising:
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a receiving mechanism configured to receive a request from a user to provide additional display space in a display device for application management, wherein a display device presents an image of a computer desktop to the user; and a display mechanism configured to, in response to the request; decrease the size of the computer desktop in the display device to provide an extended display area, display an item in the extended display area, and wherein the display mechanism is further configured to display a user interface element in the extended display area, wherein by adjusting the user interface element in the extended display area, a user either zooms in to increase the display area of the desktop or zooms out to decrease the display area of the desktop, wherein increasing the display area of the desktop involves proportionally reducing the area of the extended display area and decreasing the display area of the desktop involves proportionally reducing the area of the extended display area.
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Specification