Dockable drop-down dialogs

• US 8,397,176 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2002
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/07/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Corel Corporation (Corel Holdings LP)
• Original Assignee: Corel Corporation (Corel Holdings LP)
• Inventors: Subramanian, Ramesh, Mereu, Stephen, Reid, Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): Pham, Linh K
• Application Number:
  US10/200,373
• Publication Number:
  US 20030210274A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,886 Days
• Field of Search: 715/809, 715/842, 715/810, 715798-799, 715/769, 715/711
• US Class Current: 715/809
• 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

Abstract

A user interface dialog is provided. The user interface dialog comprises tear-off functionality for being torn-off from a drop-down selection, and docking functionality for docking onto a docker.

Claims

1. An application framework implemented in a computer having a processor for executing instructions stored in non-transitory tangible computer readable memory, the instructions when executed providing:

an application window relating to an application provided on a predetermined portion of a display forming part of the computer system having;

a working area comprising a first predetermined portion of the application window; and

a docker designated area comprising a second predetermined portion of the application window, the second predetermined portion being less than a complete area of the application window;

one or more flyout buttons for activating a dockable drop-down dialog;

a drop-down system including;

drop-down functionality for dropping a dialog, as the dockable drop-down dialog, from the one or more flyout buttons, wherein the dialog presents a plurality of user interface components allowing the user to work with the dialog; and

tear-off functionality for tearing-off the dockable drop-down dialog;

a docking system including;

floating functionality for floating the tom-off dockable drop-down dialog on the working area of the application window; and

docking functionality for docking the tom-off dockable drop-down dialog within the docker designated area of the application window, the docking functionality automatically arranging the location of the dockable drop-down dialog within the docker designated area, and

a merge function for selectively enabling and disabling the docking functionality for the dockable drop-down dialog with the docker designated area.

2. The application framework as claimed in claim 1, wherein the application window comprises the merge function.

3. The application framework as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drop-down system comprises the merge function.

4. The application framework as claimed in claim 1, wherein the docking system comprises the merge function.

5. The application framework as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dialog comprises a non-linear layout of user interface controls.

6. The application framework as claimed in claim 1 wherein,

the docking functionality reconfigures the dockable drop-down dialog within the docker designated area in response to a resizing of the application window.

7. A method for providing a user interface dialog system, the method comprising steps of:

providing an application window relating to an application provided on a predetermined portion of a display having;

a working area comprising a first predetermined portion of the application window; and

a docker designated area comprising a second predetermined portion of the application window, the second predetermined portion being less than a complete area of the application window;

providing one or more flyout buttons for activating a dockable drop-down dialog;

providing a drop-down system including;

drop-down functionality for dropping a dialog, as the dockable drop-down dialog, from the one or more flyout buttons, wherein the dialog presents a plurality of user interface components allowing the user to work with the dialog; and

tear-off functionality for tearing-off the dockable drop-down dialog;

providing a docking system including;

floating functionality for floating the tom-off dockable drop-down dialog on the working area of the application window; and

docking functionality for docking the tom-off dockable drop-down dialog within the docker designated area of the application window, the docking functionality automatically arranging the location of the dockable drop-down dialog within the docker designated area, and

providing a merge function for selectively enabling and disabling the docking functionality for the dockable drop-down dialog with the docker designated area.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the merge function is provided in the application window.

9. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the merge function is provided in the drop-down system.

10. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the merge function is provided in the docking system.

11. The method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the dialog comprises a non-linear layout of user interface controls.

12. The method as claimed in claim 7 wherein, reconfigures the dockable drop-down dialog within the docker designated area in response to a resizing of the application window.

13. One or more non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage media for storing instructions or statements for use in the execution in a computer of a method for providing a user interface dialog system, the method comprising steps of:

providing an application window relating to an application provided on a predetermined portion of a display forming part of the computer system having;

a working area comprising a first predetermined portion of the application window; and

a docker designated area comprising a second predetermined portion of the application window, the second predetermined portion being less than a complete area of the application window;

providing one or more flyout buttons for activating a dockable drop-down dialog;

providing a drop-down system including;

drop-down functionality for dropping a dialog, as the dockable drop-down dialog, from the one or more flyout buttons, wherein the dialog presents a plurality of user interface components allowing the user to work with the dialog; and

tear-off functionality for tearing-off the dockable drop-down dialog;

providing a docking system including;

floating functionality for floating the tom-off dockable drop-down dialog on the working area of the application window; and

docking functionality for docking the tom-off dockable drop-down dialog within the docker designated area of the application window, the docking functionality automatically arranging the location of the dockable drop-down dialog within the docker designated area, and

providing a merge function for selectively enabling and disabling the docking functionality for the dockable drop-down dialog with the docker designated area.

14. The one or more non-transitory tangible computer-readable storage media for storing instructions or statements for use in the execution in a computer of a method for providing a user interface dialog system as claimed in claim 13 wherein, the docking functionality reconfigures the dockable drop-down dialog within the docker designated area in response to a resizing of the application window.

15. A computer program product comprising instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium for use in the execution in a computer for providing a user interface dialog system, the user interface dialog system comprising:

an application window associated with an application provided on a predetermined portion of a display forming part of the computer having;

a working area comprising a first predetermined portion of the application window; and

a docker designated area comprising a second predetermined portion of the application window, the second predetermined portion being less than a complete area of the application window;

one or more flyout buttons for activating a dockable drop-down dialog;

a drop-down system including;

drop-down functionality for dropping a dialog, as the dockable drop-down dialog, from the one or more flyout buttons, wherein the dialog presents a plurality of user interface components allowing the user to work with the dialog; and

tear-off functionality for tearing-off the dockable drop-down dialog;

a docking system including;

floating functionality for floating the tom-off dockable drop-down dialog on the working area of the application window; and

docking functionality for docking the tom-off dockable drop-down dialog within

the docker designated area of the application window, the docking functionality automatically arranging the location of the dockable drop-down dialog within the docker designated area, and

a merge function for selectively enabling and disabling the docking functionality for the dockable drop-down dialog with the docker designated area.

16. The computer program product comprising instructions stored on a non-transitory computer readable medium for use in the execution in a computer for providing a user interface dialog system as claimed in claim 15 wherein, the docking functionality reconfigures the dockable drop-down dialog within the docker designated area in response to a resizing of the application window.