Windowing System and Method for Companion Software Products

• US 20150378518A1
• Filed: 03/04/2014
• Published: 12/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Healthcare Diagnostics Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Heydlauf, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 10,007,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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

Windows corresponding to independent applications in a windowed computing environment can be linked to have unified behavior. A host application can monitor window activity to determine if windows are intended to be grouped. Commands applied to one or more windows in a group are applied to at least some other windows in the group. Windows can be grouped or ungrouped according to various criteria including a priori configuration or user action. The window grouping permits a unified user interface behavior to be established for two or more independent applications.

Claims

1. A method for managing windows implemented on a computer device that includes a processor that executes instructions out of a memory, the method comprising:

storing a plurality of window statuses that each include information about a respective window configuration;

monitoring the window statuses;

determining that two or more windows should be associated as a unified group in accordance with the monitored window statuses; and

associating the two or more windows as a unified group upon making the determination.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising comparing the monitored window statuses to the stored window statuses to make the determination.

3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising determining that a border area of one or more windows is within a predetermined distance of another border area of another one or more windows.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising associating the two or more windows as a unified group upon determining that the border area is within the predetermined distance of the other border area for a predetermined period of time.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein monitoring the window statuses further comprises making operating system calls to obtain the window statuses.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising making operating system calls multiple times a second to obtain the window statuses.

7. The method according to claim 2, further comprising determining a new window status based on the comparison.

8. The method according to claims 7, further comprising storing the new window status upon making the determination of the new window status based on the comparison.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting an operation being applied to at least one window in a group of windows; and

applying the operation to at least another window in the group of windows.

10. The method according to claim 1, further comprising storing information about the unified group to permit the unified group to be persistent.

11. A system for managing windows, comprising:

a memory for storing processor executable instructions;

a processor that is operable to execute instructions from the memory to;

store a plurality of window statuses that each include information about a respective window configuration;

monitor the window statuses;

determine that two or more windows should be associated as a unified group in accordance with the monitored window statuses; and

associate the two or more windows as a unified group upon making the determination.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further operative to compare the monitored window statuses to the stored window statuses to make the determination.

13. The system according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further operative to determine that a border area of one or more windows is within a predetermined distance of another border area of another one or more windows.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further operative to associate the two or more windows as a unified group upon determining that the border area is within the predetermined distance of the other border area for a predetermined period of time.

15. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further operative to make operating system calls to obtain the window statuses.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the processor is further operative to make operating system calls multiple times a second to obtain the window statuses.

17. The system according to claim 12, wherein the processor is further operative to determine a new window status based on the comparison.

18. The system according to claims 17, wherein the processor is further operative to store the new window status upon making the determination of the new window status based on the comparison.

19. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further operative to:

detect an operation being applied to at least one window in a group of windows; and

apply the operation to at least another window in the group of windows.

20. The system according to claim 11, wherein the processor is further operative to store information about the unified group to permit the unified group to be persistent.

21. A system for managing windows in a computer system that includes a processor executing instructions from a memory to:

load a host application into memory;

detect an input to the host application to launch an independent application that is grouped with the host application;

launch the independent application in accordance with one or more of location or size information referenced by the host application;

detect an operation being applied to at least one of the host application or the independent application; and

apply the operation to at least the other of the host application or the independent application.