Method for pointing a window frame or an icon of a window interface

• US 5,739,821 A
• Filed: 01/30/1997
• Issued: 04/14/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Primax Electronics Limited
• Inventors: Liu, Wen Hsiung, Yang, Ming Cheng, Wu, Chih Hsiung, Ho, Heng Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao H.
• Application Number:
  US08/791,276
• Time in Patent Office: 439 Days
• Field of Search: 345/340, 345/341, 345/342, 345/348, 345/357, 345/358, 345/119, 345/123, 345/145
• US Class Current: 715/807
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A window frame pointing method is used for pointing a window frame out of multiple window frames contained within a window interface by using a mouse. The content of the window interface will automatically be scrolled if the pointed window frame is not displayed over a monitor screen. The mouse comprises a two dimensional control button for generating a two dimensional pointing signal. The window interface is controlled by a window software which comprises a frame control module for controlling the pointing of a window frame according to the pointing signal. The method comprises: providing a frame position file which contains position of each window frame contained within the window interface, actuating the control button to generate a pointing signal, detecting a position of a window frame contained in the frame position file starting from the position of a currently pointed window frame approximately along the direction of the pointing signal, and designating and displaying the detected window frame as a pointed window frame over the monitor screen.

Claims

1. A method for pointing a window frame out of a plurality of window frames contained within a window interface by using a pointing device, the window interface being displayed over a monitor screen of a monitor, one of the window frames being designated as a pointed window frame which is displayed over the monitor screen in a predetermined manner, and the other window frames displayed over the monitor screen being displayed in a normal manner, the pointing device comprising a two dimensional control button for generating a two dimensional pointing signal, and a cursor control means for generating cursor control signals to scroll a cursor displayed over the monitor screen according to user inputs, the pointing device being connected to a computer which is connected to the monitor and which comprises a window software for controlling the window frames and the cursor, the window software comprising a frame control module for controlling the pointing of a window frame according to the pointing signal and a cursor control module for controlling the scrolling of the cursor over the monitor screen according to the cursor control signals, the method comprising:

a. providing a frame position file which contains positions representing the window frames contained within the window interface;

b. actuating the control button toward a direction by a user to generate a pointing signal;

c. receiving the pointing signal by using the frame control module;

d. detecting a position of a window frame contained in the frame position file starting from the position of the pointed window frame approximately along the direction of the pointing signal; and

e. designating and displaying the detected window frame as a pointed window frame over the monitor screen.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein some of the window frames contained in the window interface are displayed over the monitor screen and wherein if the detected window frame is not displayed over the monitor screen, the frame control module will scroll the content of the monitor screen first so that the detected window frame can be displayed over the monitor screen.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein some of the window frames contained in the window interface are partially displayed over the monitor screen and wherein if the detected window frame is one of the partially displayed window frames, the frame control module will scroll the content of the monitor screen first to completely display the detected window frame over the monitor screen.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein each window frame is positioned within the window interface which is represented by a two dimensional rectangular area and wherein the position of each window frame contained in the frame position file represents the window frame'"'"'s position within the rectangular area.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein each of the window frames can further be closed or opened by using the pointing device.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the pointing device comprises a bi-directional button having a first end for generating a close signal to close the pointed window frame.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the frame position file contains positions of all the opened window frames.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the window software further comprises a background file for keeping information of all the closed window frames, and wherein when an opened window frame is closed by using the pointing device, the window frame is removed from the window interface and the information about the closed window frame is recorded in the background file by the frame control module.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein when a closed window frame recorded in the background file is opened by using the pointing device, the window frame is moved into the window interface by the frame control module.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the pointing device comprises a hi-directional button having a first end for generating a shift-in signal and a second end for generating a shift-out signal for controlling the frame control module.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the frame control module, upon receiving the shift-in signal when one of the window frames is being pointed, opens a background frame over the monitor screen which contains frame icons representing the closed window frames recorded in the background file.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the frame control module closes the background frame upon receiving the shift-out signal.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein each of the window frames contains a plurality of program icons and each of the program icons represents an executable program stored in the computer.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the frame control module, upon receiving the shift-out signal when one of the window frames is being pointed, designates and displays one of the program icons of the last pointed window frame as a pointed icon.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein the frame control module, upon receiving the shift-in signal when one of the program icons is being pointed, designates and displays the window frame of the last pointed icon as a pointed window frame.

16. A method for pointing a program icon out of a plurality of program icons contained within a window frame by using a pointing device, the window frame being displayed over a monitor screen of a monitor, one of the program icons being designated as a pointed icon which is displayed over the monitor screen in a predetermined manner, and the other program icons displayed over the monitor screen being displayed in a normal manner, the pointing device comprising a two dimensional control button for generating a two dimensional pointing signal, and a cursor control means for generating cursor control signals to scroll a cursor displayed over the monitor screen according to user inputs, the pointing device being connected to a computer which is connected to the monitor and which comprises a window software for controlling the window frame, the program icons and the cursor, the window software comprising a frame control module for controlling the pointing of a program icon according to the pointing signal and a cursor control module for controlling the scrolling of the cursor over the monitor screen according to the cursor control signals, the method comprising:

a. providing an icon position file which contains positions representing the program icons contained within the window frame;

b. actuating the control button toward a direction by a user to generate a pointing signal;

c. receiving the pointing signal by using the frame control module;

d. detecting a position of a program icon contained in the icon position file starting from the position of the pointed icon approximately along the direction of the pointing signal; and

e. designating and displaying the detected program icon as a pointed icon over the monitor screen.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein part of the program icons contained in the window frame are displayed over the monitor screen and wherein if the detected program icon is not displayed over the monitor screen, the frame control module will scroll the content of the window frame first to display the detected program icon in the monitor screen.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein each program icon is positioned within the window frame which is represented by a two dimensional rectangular area and wherein the position of each program icon contained in the icon position file represents the program icon'"'"'s position within the rectangular area.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the pointing device comprises a bi-directional button having a first end for generating a shift-in signal and a second end for generating a shift-out signal, and wherein the frame control module, upon receiving the shift-out signal when one of the program icons is being pointed, designates and displays the window frame of the last pointed icon as a pointed window frame.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the frame control module, upon receiving the shift-in signal when the window frame is being pointed, designates and displays one of the program icons of the window frame as a pointed icon.