System and method for optimizing window display

• US 9,342,208 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2011
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: R2 Solutions LLC (Acacia Research Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Howes, Timothy, Vishria, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, TOAN H
• Application Number:
  US13/192,366
• Publication Number:
  US 20120030616A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,756 Days
• Field of Search: 715/800, 715/761, 715/781, 715/788, 345/173, 345/207, 345/212, 345/690
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04803 Split screen, i.e. subdividing the display area or the window area into separate subareas
• 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 system and method for efficiently displaying multiple windows is disclosed. The system displays two adjacent windows such that adjusting a first window also adjusts a second window adjacent to the first window. For example, the system determines whether to resize or move the first window in response to receiving a window adjustment input. Based on this determination, the system determines a new location for the second window and displays the second window in the new location.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for displaying a plurality of windows, the method comprising:

displaying a first window and a second window, the first window being displayed in a first location and having a first size, the second window being displayed in a second location and having a second size;

receiving a window adjustment input, the window adjustment input indicating a request to adjust at least one of the displayed first window or the second window;

after receiving the window adjustment input, determining by a processor a new second location in which to display the second window, wherein the window adjustment input does not specify or indicate the new second location or a new first location for the first window;

after receiving the window adjustment input, determining by a processor whether to resize the first window or change the first location;

resizing the first window or changing the first location of the first window according to a result of determining whether to resize the first window or change the first location;

displaying the second window in the new second location;

in response to receiving an indication of a selection of a toggle switch, returning windows to their previous sizes and locations, wherein returning windows to their previous sizes and locations includes displaying the first window at the first location such that the first window has the first size and displaying the second window at the second location such that the second window has the second size;

receiving a second window adjustment input dragging the second window within a threshold distance of the first window or dragging the first window within the threshold distance of the second window;

responsive to receiving the second window adjustment input, combining control of the first window and the second window, the combined control enabling handling of the first window and the second window as one object; and

separating controls of the first window and the second window in response to receiving a subsequent window adjustment input dragging the first window and the second window apart, the separated controls enabling handling of the first window and the second window as two separate objects.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein prior to determining a new second location to display the second window, the second window at least partially blocks the first window and the new location of the second window does not hinder the display of the second window.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

after receiving the window adjustment input, the first window and the second window are displayed such that an edge of the first window touches an edge of the second window.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

after receiving the window adjustment input, the first window and the second window are displayed such that edges of the first window are separated from edges of the second window.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein a size of the first window is unchanged responsive to determining whether to resize the first window.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

resizing at least one of the first window or the second window.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to receiving a request to display an additional window, determining whether a number of windows currently displayed are at a threshold; and

responsive to the number of currently displayed windows being at the threshold, removing at least one displayed window from a display and displaying the additional window.

8. A computer program product for displaying a plurality of windows, the computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium containing computer program code for:

displaying a first window and a second window, the first window displayed in a first location and having a first size and the second window displayed in a second location and having a second size;

receiving a window adjustment input indicating a request to adjust at least one of the displayed first window or the second window;

after receiving the window adjustment input, determining by a processor a new second location in which to display the second window, wherein the window adjustment input does not specify or indicate the new second location or a new first location for the first window;

after receiving the window adjustment input, determining by a processor whether to resize the first window;

resizing the first window according to a result of determining whether to resize the first window;

displaying the second window in the new second location;

in response to receiving an indication of a selection of a toggle switch, returning windows to their previous sizes and locations, wherein returning windows to their previous sizes and locations includes displaying the first window at the first location such that the first window has the first size and displaying the second window at the second location such that the second window has the second size;

receiving a second window adjustment input dragging the second window or the first window such that the first window and the second window are within a threshold distance of one another;

responsive to receiving the second window adjustment input, combining the control of the first window and the second window, the combined control enabling handling of the first window and the second window as one object; and

separating controls of the first window and the second window in response to receiving a subsequent window adjustment input dragging the first window and the second window apart, the separated controls enabling handling of the first window and the second window as two separate objects.

9. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein prior to determining a new second location to display the second window, the second window at least partially blocks the first window and the new location of the second window does not hinder the display of the second window.

10. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein after receiving the window adjustment input, the first window and the second window are displayed such that an edge of the first window touches an edge of the second window.

11. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein after receiving the window adjustment input, the first window and the second window are displayed such that edges of the first window are separated from edges of the second window.

12. The computer program product of claim 8, wherein a size of the first window is unchanged responsive to determining whether to resize the first window.

13. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising computer program code for:

resizing at least one of the first window or the second window.

14. The computer program product of claim 8, further comprising computer program code for:

responsive to receiving a request to display an additional window, determining whether a number of windows currently displayed are at a threshold; and

responsive to the number of currently displayed windows being at the threshold, removing at least one displayed window from a display and displaying the additional window.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory, at least one of the processor or the memory being adapted for;

displaying a first window and a second window, the first window displayed in a first location and having a first size and the second window displayed in a second location and having a second size;

receiving a window adjustment input, the window adjustment input indicating a request to adjust at least one of the displayed first window or the second window;

after receiving the window adjustment input, determining a new second location in which to display the second window, wherein the window adjustment input does not specify or indicate the new second location or a new first location for the first window;

after receiving the window adjustment input, determining whether to resize the first window;

resizing the first window according to a result of determining whether to resize the first window;

displaying the second window in the new second location;

in response to receiving an indication of a selection of a toggle switch, returning windows to their previous sizes and locations, wherein returning windows to their previous sizes and locations includes displaying the first window at the first location such that the first window has the first size and displaying the second window at the second location such that the second window has the second size;

receiving a second window adjustment input dragging the second window or the first window such that the first window and the second window are within a threshold distance of one another;

responsive to receiving the second window adjustment input, combining the control of the first window and the second window, the combined control enabling handling of the first window and the second window as one object; and

separating controls of the first window and the second window in response to receiving a subsequent window adjustment input dragging the first window and the second window apart, the separated controls enabling handling of the first window and the second window as two separate objects.