METHOD AND TOOL FOR VIRTUAL DESKTOP MANAGEMENT

• US 20090083655A1
• Filed: 09/25/2007
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC (Advanced Micro Devices, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Jason, Beharie, Zak
• Granted Patent: US 8,850,351 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/781
• 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces

Abstract

A method for providing a desktop management tool includes displaying an active desktop having at least one application window representing an active application; storing data representing a virtual desktop in memory; while displaying the active desktop, receiving non-menu-based user input representing an application-move operation between the active desktop and the virtual desktop; and associating the active application with the virtual desktop. The method may also include displaying, as part of the active desktop, a visual representation of the virtual desktop. Other examples of the described method also include displaying an enlarged view of the contents of a virtual desktop in response to additional user input. An example apparatus for implementing the described methods is also described.

Claims

1. A method for providing a desktop management tool comprising:

displaying an active desktop having at least one application window representing an active application;

storing, in memory, data representing a virtual desktop;

while displaying the active desktop, receiving non-menu-based user input representing an application-move operation between the active desktop and the virtual desktop; and

associating the active application with the virtual desktop.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying, as part of the active desktop, a visual representation of the virtual desktop.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

receiving additional user input; and

displaying an enlarged view of the contents of the virtual desktop in response to the additional user input.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein displaying the enlarged view of the contents of the virtual desktop includes keeping a viewed size of the virtual desktop constant.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the non-menu-based user input includes at least one of:

a determined cursor direction, a determined cursor path, a determined cursor distance; and

a determined cursor location.

6. A method for providing a desktop management tool comprising:

displaying an active desktop having an application window representing an active application;

displaying, as part of the active desktop, a visual representation of a virtual desktop;

based on received non-menu-based user input, removing the application window representing the active application from the active desktop; and

updating the visual representation of the virtual desktop with an indication indicating the active application is associated with the virtual desktop.

7. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

based on additional received non-menu-based user input, removing the indication indicating the active application is associated with the virtual desktop from the visual representation of the virtual desktop; and

displaying the application window representing the active application on the active desktop.

8. The method of claim 6 further comprising, based on additional user input, displaying the application window representing the active application on the active desktop.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising removing the application window representing the active application from the active desktop.

10. The method of claim 6 further comprising:

receiving additional user input; and

displaying an enlarged view of the contents of the virtual desktop.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein displaying the enlarged view of the contents of the virtual desktop includes keeping a viewed size of the virtual desktop constant.

12. The method of claim 6 wherein the non-menu-based user input includes at least one of:

a determined cursor direction, a determined cursor path, a determined cursor distance; and

a determined cursor location.

13. A device for providing a desktop management tool comprising:

one or more processing devices operative to execute stored computer readable instructions; and

memory containing stored computer readable instructions executable by the one or more processing devices that, when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices to;

output data for displaying an active desktop having at least one application window representing an active application;

store, in memory, data representing a virtual desktop;

while outputting data for displaying the active desktop, receive non-menu-based user input representing an application-move operation between the active desktop and the virtual desktop; and

associate the active application with the virtual desktop.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processing devices, further cause the one or more processing devices to:

display, as part of the active desktop, a visual representation of the virtual desktop.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processing devices, further cause the one or more processing devices to:

receive additional user input; and

display an enlarged view of the contents of the virtual desktop in response to the additional user input.

16. The device of claim 15 wherein displaying the enlarged view of the contents of the virtual desktop includes keeping a viewed size of the virtual desktop constant.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein the non-menu-based user input includes at least one of:

a determined cursor direction, a determined cursor path, a determined cursor distance; and

a determined cursor location.

18. A device for providing a desktop management tool comprising:

one or more processing devices operative to execute stored computer readable instructions; and

memory containing stored computer readable instructions executable by the one or more processing devices that, when executed by the one or more processing devices, cause the one or more processing devices to;

output data for displaying an active desktop having an application window representing an active application;

output data for displaying, as part of the active desktop, a visual representation of a virtual desktop;

based on received non-menu-based user input, remove the application window representing the active application from the active desktop; and

update the visual representation of the virtual desktop with an indication indicating the active application is associated with the virtual desktop.

19. The device of claim 18 wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processing devices, further cause the one or more processing devices to:

based on additional received non-menu-based user input, remove the indication indicating the active application is associated with the virtual desktop from the visual representation of the virtual desktop; and

display the application window representing the active application on the active desktop.

20. The device of claim 18 wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processing devices, further cause the one or more processing devices to:

based on additional user input, display the application window representing the active application on the active desktop.

21. The device of claim 20 wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processing devices, further cause the one or more processing devices to:

remove the application window representing the active application from the active desktop.

22. The device of claim 18 wherein the computer readable instructions, when executed by the one or more processing devices, further cause the one or more processing devices to:

receive additional user input; and

display an enlarged view of the contents of the virtual desktop.

23. The device of claim 22 wherein displaying the enlarged view of the contents of the virtual desktop includes keeping a viewed size of the virtual desktop constant.

24. The device of claim 18 wherein the non-menu-based user input includes at least one of:

a determined cursor direction, a determined cursor path, a determined cursor distance; and

a determined cursor location.