Smart Window Creation in a Graphical User Interface

• US 20130117709A1
• Filed: 10/23/2012
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: McCormick, Timothy, Mitchell, Alexander, Pilkington, Adam J., Wilkinson, Stuart P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,875,048 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/788
• 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 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects

Abstract

A method for controlling a graphical user interface (GUI) comprises preparing a window for displaying at an intended display location in a window display operation. The location of GUI control elements of the window at the intended display location and the location of a graphical cursor are identified. GUI control element location and the graphical cursor location are compared. The window display operation is modified if the two coincide, for example by moving the window display location so that they do not coincide.

Claims

1-8. -8. (canceled)

9. A computer system for controlling a graphical user interface (GUI), comprising:

a processor;

a display device in communication with the processor;

a window display component for preparing a window for displaying at an intended display location in a window display operation;

a first identifying component for identifying a location of a GUI control element of the window at the intended display location;

a second identifying component for identifying a location of a graphical cursor;

a comparison component for comparing the GUI control element location with the graphical cursor location;

a third identifying component for identifying that the GUI control element location and the graphical cursor location coincide; and

a modifier component for modifying the window display operation responsive to the third identifying component identifying that the GUI control element location and the graphical cursor location coincide.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the GUI control element is one of a close button, a minimize button, a maximize button, a menu button, a check box and a radio button.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the modifier component is for modifying the window display operation by changing the window display location so that the GUI control element location and graphical cursor location do not coincide.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the location of the graphical cursor is a current location.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the location of the graphical cursor is a predicted location.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the predicted location is determined from information concerning speed and direction of cursor movement.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the modifier component is for modifying the window display operation by disabling the operation of the GUI control element.

16. The system of claim 15 further comprising the comparison component repeating the comparison after a time interval, and if the locations do not coincide, the window display component displaying the window with GUI control element operation enabled.

17. (canceled)