Image-forming system having a graphic user interface with a companion application window

• US 20030043197A1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Published: 03/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Lehtonen, Mark H., Kremer, Karl Heinz
• Application Number:
  US10/235,263
• Publication Number:
  US 20030043197A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/781
• 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

Abstract

An image-forming system has a graphic user interface with a companion application window that displays windows from various applications implementing functionalities on the image-forming machine. The companion application window shows the windows from multiple applications as essentially one application or window on the graphic user interface.

Claims

1. An image-forming system comprising:

an image-forming management functionality having a first window;

a document viewing functionality having a second window; and

a graphic user interface operatively connected to receive the first window from the image-forming management functionality, the graphic user interface operatively connected to receive the second window from the document viewing functionality, the graphic user interface to provide a companion application window in response to the first window and the second window.

2. The image-forming system according to claim 1,

where the image-forming management functionality comprises a first message processor,

where the document viewing functionality comprises a second message processor,

where the first and second message processors process a message, and

where the companion application window is modified in response to the message.

3. The image-forming system according to claim 2,

where the image-forming management functionality moves the first window to a new location in response to the message, and

where the document viewing functionality moves the second window in response to the first window.

4. The image-forming system according to claim 2,

where the image-forming management functionality resizes the first window in response to the message, and

where the document viewing functionality resize the second window in response to the first window.

5. An image-forming system comprising:

a first software application;

a second software application; and

a graphic user interface operatively connected to receive a first window from the first software application and a second window from the second software application, where the graphic user interface displays a companion application window comprising the first and second windows.

6. The image-forming system according to claim 5,

where first software application comprises a first message processor,

where the second software application comprises a second message processor,

where the first and second message processors process a message, and

where the companion application window is modified in response to the message.

7. The image-forming system according to claim 6,

where the first software application moves the first window to a new location in response to the message, and

where the second software application moves the second window in response to the first window.

8. The image-forming system according to claim 6,

where the first software application resizes the first window in response to the message, and

where the second software application resizes the second window in response to the first window.

9. The image-forming system according to claim 5,

where the first software application implements an image viewing functionality, and

where the second software application implements an image-forming management functionality.

10. A method for displaying a companion application window on a graphic user interface in an image-forming machine, comprising:

initializing an image-forming management functionality and a document viewing functionality;

positioning the companion application window on the graphic user interface, the companion application window comprising at least one window from the image-forming management functionality and the document viewing functionality;

monitoring at least one message; and

repositioning the companion application window on the graphic user interface in response to the at least one message.

11. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 10, further comprising:

sizing the first window to a portion of the graphical user interface; and

sizing the second window to a remaining portion of the graphical user interface.

12. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 11, further comprising where the portion is about one-quarter of the graphical user interface.

13. A method for displaying a companion application window on a graphic user interface in an image-forming machine, comprising

starting a first software application

starting a second software application

displaying an integrated window on the graphic user interface, the integrated window comprising a first window from the first software application and a second window from the second software application, where the first and second windows are viewable at essentially the same time.

14. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 13, further comprising:

positioning the first window at a location on the graphic user interface; and

positioning the second window on the graphic user interface responsive to the first window.

15. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 13, further comprising:

sizing the first window to a portion of the graphical user interface; and

sizing the second window to a remaining portion of the graphical user interface.

16. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 15, where the portion is about one-quarter of the graphical user interface.

17. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 13, further comprising:

monitoring message related to at least one of the position and operation of the first and second windows; and

displaying the integrated window in response to the message.

18. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 17, further comprising:

repositioning the first window at a second location in response to the message; and

repositioning the second window in response to the first window.

19. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 17, further comprising:

resizing the first window in response to the message

resizing the second window in response to the first window

20. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 17, further comprising:

processing the message through a first message processor in the first software application and through a second message processor in the second message processor; and

modifying at least one of the first and second windows in response to the message.

21. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 20, where the message comprises one of a minimize message, a restore message, a maximize/minimize message, a maximize/restore message, a close message, a size message, and a move message.

22. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 21, further comprising minimizing the first window when the message comprises the minimize message.

23. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 21, further comprising hiding the second window when the message comprises the maximize/minimize message.

24. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 21, further comprising showing the second window when the message comprises the restore message.

25. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 21, further comprising closing the second window when the message comprises the close message.

26. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 25, further comprising sending the close message from the second message processor to the first message processor.

27. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 21, further comprising resizing the first window and the second window when the message comprises the size message.

28. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 27, further comprising resizing the first window in response to the second window.

29. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 21, further comprising moving the first and second windows when the message comprises the move message

30. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 29, further comprising moving the first window in response to the second window.

31. The method for displaying a companion application window according to claim 13,

where the first software application implements an image viewing functionality, and where the second software application implements an image-forming management functionality.