Manipulating display of multiple display objects

• US 8,140,997 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2006
• Issued: 03/20/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/26/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Nemoto, Kazuo
• Primary Examiner(s): Bashore, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US12/159,116
• Publication Number:
  US 20090138818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,917 Days
• Field of Search: 715/795, 715/802, 715/790
• US Class Current: 715/795
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

A method for manipulating display of multiple ordered and at least partially overlapping display objects on a display device includes: recording the current position in a stacking order of each of the multiple display objects in an object identifier table in association with a corresponding object identifier; changing the position in the stacking order of a first object in response to a first user action for selecting the first object; recording the position in the stacking order of the first object before the position is changed in the object identifier table as a previous position in the stacking order; and changing the position in the stacking order of the first object with the previous position in the stacking order of the first object in response to a second user action for restoring the changed position in the stacking order of the first object to the previous position in the stacking order.

Claims

1. A method for manipulating display of a plurality of window objects on a display device in a data processing system connected to the display device, the plurality of window objects being ordered and at least partially overlapping each other, the method comprising the steps of:

recording a current position in a stacking order of each of the plurality of window objects in an object identifier table in association with a corresponding object identifier;

changing the position in the stacking order of a first object in response to a first user action for selecting the first object;

recording the position in the stacking order of the first object before the position is changed in the object identifier table as a previous position in the stacking order;

changing the position in the stacking order of the first object with the previous position in the stacking order of the first object in response to a second user action for restoring the changed position in the stacking order of the first object to the previous position in the stacking order; and

lowering a position in the stacking order of a second object in accordance with a predetermined rule in response to the second user action performed for the second object, on condition that a previous position in the stacking order is not associated with the second object.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of changing the position in the stacking order of the first object in response to the first user action comprises the step of raising the position in the stacking order of the first object to the top of a stack in response to the first user action for selecting the first object.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of changing the position in the stacking order of the first object in response to the first user action comprises the steps of:

raising the position in the stacking order of the first object in response to the first user action for selecting the first object;

recording the position in the stacking order of the first object before being raised in the object identifier table as a previous position; and

lowering by one level the current and previous positions in the stacking order of other window objects located between the position in the staking order of the first object before being raised and the position in the staking order of the object after being raised.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the step of changing the position in the stacking order of the first object in response to the first user action comprises the steps of:

lowering the position in the stacking order of the first object in response to the first user action for selecting the first object;

recording the position in the stacking order of the first object before the position in the stacking order is lowered in the object identifier table as a previous position in the stacking order; and

raising by one level the current and previous positions in the stacking order of other window objects located between the position in the stacking order of the first object before being lowered and the position in the stacking order of the first object after being lowered.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

in response to a third user action for generating a new object, generating a third object and assigning a unique object identifier to the third object;

recording the identifier assigned to the third object in an object identifier table in association with a position in the stacking order of the third object; and

lowering current and previous positions in the staking order of an existing window object whose position in the stacking order is lower than the position in the stacking order of the third object.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

in response to a fourth user action for deleting a fourth object, deleting the fourth object and deleting an object identifier of the fourth object from the object identifier table; and

raising by one level current and previous positions in the stacking order of an object whose display position in the stacking order is lower than the position in the stacking order of the fourth object.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data processing system comprises a mouse including an input button, and a keyboard, the first user action is depression of the input button of the mouse and the second user action is depressing a predetermined key of the keyboard while depressing at the same time the input button of the mouse.

8. A computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereon that when executed manipulates display of a plurality of window objects on a display device in a data processing system connected to the display device, the plurality of window objects being ordered and at least partially overlapping each other, the program causing the data processing system to perform the steps of:

recording a current position in a stacking order of each of the plurality of window objects in an object identifier table in association with a corresponding object identifier;

changing the position in the stacking order of a first object in response to a first user action for selecting the first object;

recording the position in the stacking order of the first object before the position is changed in the object identifier table as a previous position in the stacking order;

changing the position in the stacking order of the first object with the previous position in the stacking order of the first object in response to a second user action for restoring the changed position in the stacking order of the first object to the previous position in the stacking order; and

lowering a position in the stacking order of a second object in accordance with a predetermined rule in response to the second user action performed for the second object, on condition that a previous position in the stacking order is not associated with the second object.

9. A data processing system having a function of manipulating display of a plurality of window objects on a display device, the plurality of window objects being ordered and at least partially overlapping each other, the data processing system comprising:

a processor configured to perform

recording a current position in a stacking order of each of the plurality of window objects in an object identifier table in association with a corresponding object identifier;

changing the position in the stacking order of a first object in response to a first user action for selecting the first object;

recording the position in the stacking order of the first object before the position is changed in the object identifier table as a previous position in the stacking order;

changing the position in the stacking order of the first object with the previous position in the stacking order of the first object in response to a second user action for restoring the changed position in the stacking order of the first object to the previous position in the stacking order; and

lowering a position in the stacking order of a second object in accordance with a predetermined rule in response to the second user action performed for the second object, on condition that a previous position in the stacking order is not associated with the second object.