Enhanced windows management feature
First Claim
1. A method for windows management on a computing device comprising a computing device display, the method comprising:
- taking a first window snapshot of a first newly launched application window a predetermined time after the first application window is launched;
storing the first window snapshot;
taking a second window snapshot of a second newly launched application window the predetermined time after the second application window is launched;
storing the second window snapshot;
receiving a user command to display all open application windows;
taking a current snapshot of the application window that is positioned in the foreground of the computing device display after receiving the user command to display all open application windows; and
generating a grid of two or more cells on the computing device display wherein the current snapshot is displayed in one cell of the grid and each window snapshot that is stored for an application window other than the application window positioned in the foreground of the computing device display is displayed in a cell of the grid and wherein no cell in the grid overlaps any other cell in the grid.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An enhanced windows management feature provides computing device users with the ability to view open windows simultaneously and unobscured on the computing device display. User satisfaction is increased when a user can cause all windows open on a computing device display to be exhibited simultaneously and unobscured with quick and easy user actions. The enhanced windows management feature allows a user to work within the display of all open windows to, e.g., minimize, maximize or close open windows, or change the z-order of the open windows when normally exhibited on the computing device display. The enhanced windows management feature also allows a user to view and work within, at the same time, two or more live, i.e., active, windows that are displayed simultaneously and unobscured on the computing device display.
159 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for windows management on a computing device comprising a computing device display, the method comprising:
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taking a first window snapshot of a first newly launched application window a predetermined time after the first application window is launched; storing the first window snapshot; taking a second window snapshot of a second newly launched application window the predetermined time after the second application window is launched; storing the second window snapshot; receiving a user command to display all open application windows; taking a current snapshot of the application window that is positioned in the foreground of the computing device display after receiving the user command to display all open application windows; and generating a grid of two or more cells on the computing device display wherein the current snapshot is displayed in one cell of the grid and each window snapshot that is stored for an application window other than the application window positioned in the foreground of the computing device display is displayed in a cell of the grid and wherein no cell in the grid overlaps any other cell in the grid. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method for displaying views of two or more open windows simultaneously and unobscured on a computing device comprising a computing device display, the method comprising:
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taking a window snapshot of a first window launched on the computing device as an open window; storing the window snapshot of the first window; taking a window snapshot of a second window launched on the computing device as an open window; storing the window snapshot of the second window; receiving a first user command to display all windows simultaneously; populating a grid of two or more cells on the computing device by displaying a view of each open window on the computing device in a cell of the grid wherein no cell of the grid overlaps any other cell of the grid and wherein the view of one open window displayed in a cell of the grid is the stored window snapshot for the one open window; receiving a second user command to disable the grid; and disabling the grid and returning all open windows to the x-y positions they occupied on the computing device display prior to the grid being populated with a view of each open window. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for windows management on a computing device comprising a computing device display, the method comprising:
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taking a window snapshot of a first newly launched window on the computing device; storing the window snapshot for the first newly launched window; taking a window snapshot of a second newly launched window on the computing device; storing the window snapshot of the second newly launched window; receiving a first user command to display all open windows; generating a grid of one or more cells on the computing device display wherein at least one stored window snapshot is displayed in one cell of the grid and wherein no cell in the grid overlaps any other cell in the grid; receiving a second user command to toggle the grid off; and disabling the grid and returning all windows whose snapshot is displayed in a cell of the grid to the x-y positions they occupied on the computing device display prior to the grid being generated. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification