Method and apparatus for managing windows
First Claim
1. A method to manipulate a window in a digital processing system, the method comprising:
- receiving input of dragging an item in a first window wherein the input shows a positioning of the item over an area of the first window, the first window being in a first state;
determining whether the item is intended to be dropped in the first window;
determining whether the first window is partially off-screen on a first screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window;
automatically bringing the first window to a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen that comprises repositioning the first window in the first screen to reveal a second portion of the first window that is off-screen in the first state if it is determined that the first window is partially off-screen, andreturning the first window from the second state to the first state if the item is not dropped in the first window that includes repositioning the second portion of the first window on the first screen back off-screen to the original position of the first window in the first state.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatuses to manipulate a window during a drag-and-drop operation. In one aspect of the invention, a method to manipulate a window includes: receiving input of dragging an item to a first window in a first state in which the first window is not completely accessible on a first screen; and bringing the first window from the first state to a second state in which the first window is more accessible or completely accessible on the first screen before the item is dropped. In one example according to this aspect, the first window is brought to the second state in response to a first determination that the first window contains a target location for the item. The first determination is in response to a predetermined input which is one of: a) a determination that the item has hovered around a location in the first window for a predetermined amount of time; and b) an input of pressing a key while the item is being dragged in the first window.
324 Citations
90 Claims
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1. A method to manipulate a window in a digital processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving input of dragging an item in a first window wherein the input shows a positioning of the item over an area of the first window, the first window being in a first state; determining whether the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; determining whether the first window is partially off-screen on a first screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; automatically bringing the first window to a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen that comprises repositioning the first window in the first screen to reveal a second portion of the first window that is off-screen in the first state if it is determined that the first window is partially off-screen, and returning the first window from the second state to the first state if the item is not dropped in the first window that includes repositioning the second portion of the first window on the first screen back off-screen to the original position of the first window in the first state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A machine readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a digital processing system cause said system to perform a method to manipulate a window in the digital processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving input of dragging an item in a first window, the first window being in a first state; determining whether the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; determining whether the first window is partially off-screen on a first screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; automatically bringing the first window to a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen, wherein said bringing the first window to the second state comprises repositioning the first window in the first screen to reveal a second portion of the first window that is off-screen in the first state if it is determined that the first window is partially off-screen, and returning the first window from the second state to the first state if the item is not dropped in the first window that includes repositioning the second portion of the first window on the first screen back off-screen to the original position of the first window in the first state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A digital processing system to manipulate a window of a user interface, the digital processing system comprising:
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means for receiving input of dragging an item in a first window, the first window being in a first state; means for determining whether the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; determining whether the first window is partially off-screen on a first screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; means for automatically bringing the first window to a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen, wherein said means for bringing the first window to the second state comprises means for repositioning the first window in the first screen to reveal a second portion of the first window that is off-screen in the first state if it is determined that the first window is partially off-screen, and means for returning the first window from the second state to the first state if the item is not dropped in the first window that includes repositioning the second portion of the first window on the first screen back off-screen to the original position of the first window in the first state. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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31. A method to manipulate a window in a data processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving input which indicates a dragging of an item in a first window, said first window being in a first state; determining a reduced dragging velocity during the dragging the item over an area of the first window; determining whether the first window is partially off-screen on a first screen, if the reduced dragging velocity is determined; automatically displaying, the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen, wherein said displaying the first window comprises repositioning the first window to reveal a portion of the first window on the first screen, the portion being off-screen in the first state, if it is determined that the first window is partially off-screen; and returning the first window from the second state to the first state if the reduced dragging velocity is not determined that includes repositioning the portion of the first window back off the first screen to an original position of the first window in the first state. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method to manipulate a window in a data processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving input which indicates a dragging of an item in a first window wherein the input shows a positioning of the item over an area of the first window, said first window being in a first state in which the first window has borders defining an area which is only partially viewable on a first screen, said area being at least partially obscured by a menu region which is displayed on said first screen and being at least partially obscured by one of a second window or an icon; determining whether the first window is partially off-screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; automatically displaying the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible that includes repositioning the first window to reveal a portion of the first window, the portion of the first window being off-screen when the first window is in the first state, while continuing to obscure said first window by said menu region, if it is determined that the first window is partially off-screen; and returning the first window from the second state to the first state if the item is not dropped in the first window that includes repositioning the portion of the first window back off-screen to its original position in the first state. - View Dependent Claims (38, 39, 40, 41)
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42. A method to manipulate a window in a data processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving input which indicates a dragging of an item in a first window wherein the input shows a positioning of the item over an area of the first window, said first window being in a first state in which the first window has borders defining an area; determining whether the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; determining whether the first window has a portion located off a first screen so that the area is only partially viewable on the first screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; automatically displaying the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen, wherein said displaying the first window comprises repositioning the first window to display the portion of the first window that has been off-screen, onto the first screen, if it is determined that the portion of the first window is off the first screen; displaying the first window in the first state that includes repositioning the portion of the first window back off-screen after said displaying in the second state if said dragging moves out of said first window. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44)
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45. A method to manipulate a window in a data processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving input which indicates dragging of an item in a first window wherein the input shows positioning of the item over an area of the first window, said first window being in a first state, the first window has borders defining an area; determining whether the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; determining whether the first window has a portion located off a first screen so that the area is only partially viewable on the first screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; automatically displaying the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen that includes repositioning the first window to reveal the portion located off the first screen when the first window is in the first state if it is determined that the portion of first window is located off the first screen; displaying a closed enclosure in the first window in the second state; receiving input which indicates dragging of said item in a region near said closed enclosure; displaying, in response to the input which indicates a dragging near said closed enclosure, a second window which shows a view of contents of the closed enclosure; and returning the first window from the second state to the first state that includes repositioning the portion of the first window back off the first screen if the item is not dropped in the first window. - View Dependent Claims (46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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51. A machine readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method to manipulate a window in the data processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving input which indicates a dragging of an item in a first window, said first window being in a first state; determining a reduced dragging velocity during the dragging the item over an area of the first window; determining whether the first window is partially off-screen on a first screen, if the reduced dragging velocity is determined; automatically displaying the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen, wherein said displaying the first window comprises repositioning the first window to reveal a portion of the first window on the first screen, the portion being off-screen in the first state, if it is determined that the first window is partially off-screen, and returning the first window from the second state to the first state if the reduced dragging velocity is not determined that includes repositioning the portion of the first window back off the first screen to an original position of the first window in the first state. - View Dependent Claims (52, 53, 54, 55, 56)
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57. A machine readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method to manipulate a window in the data processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving input which indicates a dragging of an item in a first window wherein the input shows a positioning of the item over an area of the first window, said first window being in a first state in which the first window has borders defining an area which is only partially viewable on a first screen, said area being at least partially obscured by a menu region which is displayed on said first screen and being at least partially obscured by one of a second window or an icon; determining whether the first window is partially off-screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; automatically displaying the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible that includes repositioning the first window to reveal a portion of the first window, the portion of the first window being off-screen when the first window is in the first state, while continuing to obscure said first window by said menu region, if it is determined that the first window is partially off-screen; and returning the first window from the second state to the first state if the item is not dropped in the first window that includes repositioning the portion of the first window back off-screen to its original position in the first state. - View Dependent Claims (58, 59, 60, 61)
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62. A machine readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method to manipulate a window in the data processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving input which indicates a dragging of an item in a first window wherein the input shows a positioning of the item over an area of the first window, said first window being in a first state in which the first window has borders defining an area; determining whether the item dragged into the first window is intended to be dropped in the first window; determining whether the first window has a portion located off a first screen so that the area is only partially viewable on the first screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; automatically displaying the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen, wherein said displaying the first window comprises repositioning the first window to display the portion of the first window that has been off-screen, on the screen, if it is determined that the portion of the first window being is off the first screen; and
displaying the first window in the first state that includes repositioning the portion of the first window back off-screen after said displaying in the second state if said dragging moves out of said first window. - View Dependent Claims (63, 64)
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65. A machine readable medium storing executable computer program instructions which when executed by a data processing system cause said system to perform a method to manipulate a window in the data processing system, the method comprising:
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receiving input which indicates dragging of an item in a first window wherein the input shows positioning of the item over an area of the first window, said first window being in a first state, the first window has borders defining an area; determining whether the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; determining whether the first window has a portion located off a first screen so that the area is only partially viewable on the first screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; automatically displaying the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen that includes repositioning the first window to reveal the portion located off the first screen when the first window is in the first state if it is determined that the portion of the first window is located off the first screen; displaying a closed enclosure in the first window in the second state; receiving input which indicates dragging of said item in a region near said closed enclosure; displaying, in response to the input which indicates a dragging near said closed enclosure, a second window which shows a view of contents of the closed enclosure; and returning the first window from the second state to the first state that includes repositioning the portion of the first window back off the first screen if the item is not dropped in the first window. - View Dependent Claims (66, 67, 68, 69, 70)
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71. A data processing system to manipulate a window in a graphical user interface system, the data processing system comprising:
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means for receiving input which indicates a dragging of an item into a first window, said first window being in a first state; means for determining a reduced dragging velocity during the dragging the item over an area of the first window; determining whether the first window is partially off-screen on a first screen, if the reduced dragging velocity is determined; means for automatically displaying the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen, wherein said means for displaying the first window comprises means for repositioning the first window to reveal a portion of the first window on the first screen, the portion being off-screen in the first state, if it is determined that the first window is partially off-screen, and means for returning the first window from the second state to the first state if the reduced dragging velocity is not determined that includes repositioning the portion of the first window on the first screen back off the first screen to an original position of the first window in the first state. - View Dependent Claims (72, 73, 74, 75, 76)
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77. A data processing system to manipulate a window in a graphical user interface system, the data processing system comprising:
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means for receiving input which indicates a dragging of an item in a first window wherein the input shows a positioning of the item over an area of the first window, said first window being in a first state in which the first window has borders defining an area which is only partially viewable on a first screen, said area being at least partially obscured by a menu region which is displayed on said first screen and being at least partially obscured by one of a second window or an icon; determining whether the first window is partially off-screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; means for automatically displaying the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible that includes repositioning the first window to reveal a portion of the first window, the portion of the first window being off-screen when the first window is in the first state, while continuing to obscure said first window by said menu region, if it is determined that the first window is partially off-screen; and means for returning the first window from the second state to the first state if the item is not dropped in the first window that includes repositioning the portion of the first window back off-screen to its original position in the first state. - View Dependent Claims (78, 79, 80, 81)
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82. A data processing system to manipulate a window in a graphical user interface system, the data processing system comprising:
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means for receiving input which indicates a dragging of an item in a first window wherein the input shows a positioning of the item over an area of the first window, said first window being in a first state in which the first window has borders defining an area; means for determining whether the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; determining whether the first window has a portion located off a first screen so that the area is only partially viewable on the first screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; means for automatically displaying the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen wherein said means for displaying the first window comprises means for repositioning the first window to display the portion of the first window that has been off-screen, onto the screen, if it is determined that the portion of the first window is off the first screen; and means for displaying the first window in the first state that includes repositioning the portion of the first window back off-screen after the first window is displayed in the second state if said dragging moves out of said first window. - View Dependent Claims (83, 84)
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85. A data processing system to manipulate a window in a graphical user interface system, the data processing system comprising:
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means for receiving input which indicates dragging of an item in a first window wherein the input shows positioning of the item over an area of the first window, said first window being in a first state, the first window has borders defining an area; determining whether the item dragged into the first window is intended to be dropped in the first window; determining whether the first window has a portion located off a first screen so that the area is only partially viewable on the first screen, if the item is intended to be dropped in the first window; means for automatically displaying the first window in a second state in which the first window is more accessible on the first screen that includes repositioning the first window to reveal the portion located off the first screen when the first window is in the first state if it is determined that the portion of the first window is located off the first screen; means for displaying a closed enclosure in the first window in the second state; means for receiving input which indicates dragging of said item in a region near said closed enclosure; means for displaying, in response to the input which indicates a dragging near said closed enclosure, a second window which shows a view of contents of the closed enclosure; and means for returning the first window from the second state to the first state that includes repositioning the portion of the first window back off the first screen if the item is not dropped in the first window. - View Dependent Claims (86, 87, 88, 89, 90)
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Specification