Desk drawer user interface

• US 5,745,096 A
• Filed: 10/18/1996
• Issued: 04/28/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Spiegel, Joel, Norman, George, Ludolph, Frank
• Primary Examiner(s): Liang, Regina
• Application Number:
  US08/733,545
• Time in Patent Office: 557 Days
• Field of Search: 345/115, 345/118, 345/119, 345/120, 345/121, 345/145, 345/146, 345/156, 345/157, 395/339, 395/340, 395/342, 395/343, 395/344
• US Class Current: 715/764
• 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

Abstract

A display oriented software user interface for the generation and display of a secondary display region within a primary display region of a computer controlled information management system having windows or localized sections of displayable information and icons. The secondary display region, Desk Drawer, providing advanced capabilities to the management system by generating a readily accessible region wherein icons may be placed and always accessed thereafter when the secondary display region is present. The presence of the secondary display region may be governed by a separate screen region responsive to the cursor display position.

Claims

1. In a computer controlled information management system including a display screen containing a primary display region, and means for simultaneously and selectively displaying within said primary display region a plurality of display windows and/or icons, some of which may block or partially block the view of others depending on the number of windows and/or icons being displayed at any given time, a display system comprising:

first means for generating and displaying a secondary display region covering at least a portion of said primary display region and any windows and/or icons being displayed within that portion of the primary display region, said secondary display region and its contents, when present, being completely viewable within said display screen such that, while said secondary display region is displayed it is always displayed over and covering other data including said plurality of display windows and/or icons to the extent said plurality of display windows and/or icons are in said portion of said primary display region;

second means for removing said secondary display region from said display screen thereby allowing said primary display region to be viewed in its entirety;

third means for displaying a plurality of icons within said secondary display region upon display of said secondary display region by said first means;

fourth means for selectively transferring icons into said secondary display region when said secondary display region is displayed, by dragging said icons from said primary display region into said secondary display region and depositing said icons into said secondary display region; and

fifth means for selectively transferring icons from said secondary display region, when said secondary display region is displayed, by dragging said icons from said secondary display region to said primary display region, and depositing said icons into said primary display region.

2. The display system as described in claim 1 wherein said fourth means for selectively transferring icons into said secondary display region includes dragging said icons from said primary display region, triggering said first means to display said secondary display region, and dragging said icons into said secondary display region displayed;

and

wherein said fifth means for selectively transferring icons from said secondary display region includes dragging said icons from said secondary display region, triggering said second means to remove said secondary display region, and dragging said icons into said primary display region.

3. The display system as described in claim 1 further comprising a first trigger means for triggering said first means to generate said secondary display region on said display screen.

4. The display system as described in claim 3 further comprising a device for positioning a cursor on the screen;

and wherein said first trigger means comprises a first triggered display region and responds to the screen position of said cursor within said first triggered display region.

5. The display system as described in claim 4 wherein said first trigger means comprises a first triggered display region and responds to the display screen position of said cursor within said first triggered display region when said display system is also activated.

6. The display system as described in claim 5 wherein said device for positioning a cursor is a computer mouse device and wherein the display system is activated by depressing a button on said computer mouse device.

7. The display system as described in claim 3 further comprising a user input device;

and wherein said first trigger means responds to signals from said user input device.

8. The display system as described in claim 1 further comprising a second trigger means for triggering said second means to remove said secondary display region from said display screen.

9. The display system as described in claim 8 further comprising a device for positioning a cursor on the screen;

and wherein said second trigger means responds to the display screen position of said cursor leaving said secondary display region.

10. The display system as described in claim 9 wherein said device for positioning a cursor is a computer mouse device.

11. The display system as described in claim 8 further comprising a user input device;

and wherein said second trigger means responds to signals from said user input device.

12. The display system as described in claim 1 wherein said first means includes a control means for selectively varying the amount of said secondary display region displayed and accessible over said primary display region when said secondary display region is displayed.

13. The display system as described in claim 12 further comprising a device for positioning a cursor on the display screen;

and wherein said control means includes a second triggered display region, said second triggered display region for responding to the display screen position of said cursor when within said second triggered display region.

14. The display system as described in claim 12 wherein said control means disables said secondary display region when said secondary display region is varied such that it is fully reduced and not accessible and said control means enables said secondary display region when said secondary display region is varied such that it is not fully reduced but accessible.

15. The display system as described in claim 12 wherein the display screen positions of said icons within said secondary display region, when said secondary display region is varied in size, will adjust from their original positions to new screen positions such that said icons remain viewable as long as possible and said display screen positions of said icons will further return to said original positions when said secondary display region is appropriately varied in size such that said original positions become viewable.

16. The display system as described in claim 5 wherein the display system is activated by an activation command from one of said device for positioning a cursor and a keyboard coupled to said display system.

17. The display system as described in claim 1 wherein the display screen position of each icon within said secondary display region is stored by said information management system as a relative position with respect to the total dimension of said display screen.

18. The display system as described in claim 1 further comprising means for displaying an open window within said primary display region upon the opening of an icon representing a closed window, said icon representing a closed window and being located within said secondary display region, said open window being blocked at least partially by said secondary display region to the extent said open window is in said portion of said primary display region if said secondary display region is open.

19. The display system as described in claim 18 further comprising means for closing said open window within said primary display region and for zooming down said open window, upon closure, toward said secondary display region if the icon representing said open window resides in said secondary display region.

20. The display system as described in claim 1 wherein the fourth means includes means for reducing the size of an open window that is being dragged from said primary display region to said secondary display region, said reduced size open window having only limited display capabilities and no access capabilities for the contents located within.

21. The display system as described in claim 20 wherein the fifth means includes means for enlarging said reduced size open window when said reduced size open window is dragged from said secondary display region to said primary display region, said reduced size open window being then enlarged to normal size and capability within said primary display region.

22. In a computer controlled information management system including a display screen containing a primary display region, and means for simultaneously and selectively displaying within said primary display region a plurality of display windows and/or icons, some of which may block or partially block the view of others depending on the number of windows and/or icons being displayed at any given time, a display system comprising:

first means for generating and displaying a first or a second secondary display region covering at least a portion of said primary display region and any windows and/or icons being displayed within that portion of the primary display region, said first or said second secondary display region and its contents, when present being completely viewable within said display screen such that, while said first or said second secondary display region is displayed it is always displayed over and covering other data including said plurality of display windows and/or icons to the extent said plurality of display windows and/or icons are in said portion of said primary display region said first means displaying said first or said second secondary display region such that said first or said second secondary display region when displayed is displayed without first closing said other data including said plurality of display windows to the extent said plurality of display windows are in said portion of said primary display region;

second means for removing said first or said second secondary display region from said display screen;

third means for displaying a plurality of icons within said first or said second secondary display region upon display of said first or said second secondary display region by said first means;

fourth means for selectively transferring icons into said first or said second secondary display region, when said first or said second secondary display region is displayed, by dragging said icons from said primary display region and depositing said icons into said first or said second secondary display region; and

fifth means for selectively transferring icons from said first or said second secondary display region, when said first or said second secondary display region is displayed, by dragging said icons from said first or said second secondary display region, and depositing said icons into said primary display region.

23. This display system as described in claim 22 wherein said fourth means for selectively transferring icons into said first or said second secondary display region includes dragging said icons from said primary display region, triggering said first means to display said first or said second secondary display region, and dragging said icons into said first or said second secondary display region;

and

wherein said fifth means for selectively transferring icons from said first or said second secondary display region includes dragging said icons from said first or said second secondary display region, triggering said second means to remove said first or said second secondary display region, and dragging said icons into said primary display region.

24. The display system as described in claim 22 further comprising a first trigger means for triggering said first means to generate said first or said second secondary display region on said display screen.

25. The display system as described in claim 24 further comprising a device for positioning a cursor on said display screen;

and wherein said first trigger means comprises a single and an alternate first triggered display region and responds to the screen position of said cursor within said single or said alternate first triggered display region.

26. The display system as described in claim 25 wherein said trigger means comprises said single and said alternate first triggered display region and responds to the display screen position of said cursor within said single and said alternate first triggered display region when said display system is also activated.

27. The display system as described in claim 26 wherein said device for positioning a cursor is a computer mouse device and wherein the display system is activated by depressing a button on said computer mouse device.

28. The display system as described in claim 24 further comprising a user input device;

and wherein said first trigger means responds to signals from said user input device.

29. The display system as described in claim 22 further comprising a second trigger means for triggering said second means to remove said first or said second secondary display region from said display screen.

30. The display system as described in claim 29 further comprising a device for positioning a cursor on said display screen;

and wherein said second trigger means responds to the display screen position of said cursor leaving said first or said second secondary display region.

31. The display system as described in claim 30 wherein said device for positioning a cursor is a computer mouse device.

32. The display system as described in claim 29 further comprising a user input device;

and wherein said second trigger means responds to signals from said user input device.

33. The display screen as described in claim 25 further comprising means for displaying said alternate first triggered display region within said first secondary display region when said first secondary display region is displayed on said display screen, said alternate first triggered display region for triggering said first means to generate said second secondary display region on said display screen.

34. The display system as described in claim 33 further comprising means for closing said first secondary display region upon the display of said second secondary display region such that only one of said first or said second secondary display region is accessible on said display screen.

35. The display system as described in claim 25 further comprising means for displaying said single first triggered display region within said second secondary display region when said second secondary display region is displayed on said display screen, said single first triggered display region for triggering said first means to generate said first secondary display region on said display screen.

36. The display system as described in claim 35 further comprising means for closing said second secondary display region upon the display of said first secondary display region such that only one of said first or said second secondary display region is accessible on said display screen.

37. The display system as described in claim 22 wherein said first means includes a control means for selectively varying the amount of said first or said second secondary display region displayed and accessible over said primary display region when said first or said second secondary display region is displayed.

38. The display system as described in claim 37 further comprising a device for positioning a cursor on said display screen;

and wherein said control means includes a single and an alternate second triggered display region that responds to the display screen position of said cursor within said single or said alternate second triggered display region.

39. The display system as described in claim 37 wherein said control means disables said first or said second secondary display region when said first or said second secondary display region is varied such that said first or said second display region is fully reduced and not accessible and said control means enables said first or said second secondary display region when said first or said second secondary display region is varied such that it is not fully reduced but accessible.

40. The display system as described in claim 37 wherein the display screen positions of said icons within said first or said second secondary display region, when said first or said second secondary display region is varied in size, will adjust from their original positions to new screen positions such that said icons remain viewable as long as possible and said display screen positions will further return to said original positions when said first or said second secondary display region is appropriately varied in size such that said original positions become viewable.

41. The display system as in claim 26 wherein the display system is activated by an activation command from one of said device for positioning a cursor and a keyboard coupled to said display system.

42. The display system as described in claim 22 wherein the display screen position of each of said icons within said first or said second secondary display region is stored by said information management system as a relative position with respect to the total dimension of said display screen.

43. The display system as described in claim 22 further comprising means for displaying an open window within said primary display region upon the opening of an icon representing a closed window, said icon representing a closed window and being located within said first or said second secondary display region, said open window being blocked at least partially by said secondary display region to the extent said open window is in said portion of said primary display region if said first or said second secondary display region is open.

44. The display system as described in claim 43 further comprising means for closing said open window within said primary display region and for zooming down said open window, upon closure, toward said first or said second secondary display region if the icon representing said open window resides in said first or said second secondary display region.

45. The display system as described in claim 22 wherein the fourth means includes means for reducing the size of an open window that is being dragged from said primary display region to said first or said second secondary display region, said reduced size open window having only limited display capabilities and no access capabilities for the contents located within.

46. The display system as described in claim 45 wherein the fifth means includes means for enlarging said reduced size open window when said reduced size open window is dragged from said first or said second secondary display region to said primary display region, said reduced size open window being then enlarged to normal size and capability within said primary display region.

75. The display system as in claim 34 wherein a user of said system transfers an icon from said first secondary display region to said second secondary display region.

47. In an interactive computer controlled display system having a processor, a data display screen coupled to said processor, a cursor control device coupled to said processor for interactively positioning a cursor position indicator means on said data display screen, and information within said display system, a method for interactively accessing a secondary display region comprising the steps of:

controlling said cursor position indicator means via said cursor control device;

generating and displaying a primary display region on said data display screen for viewing at least a portion said information;

generating and displaying a trigger region on said data display screen;

presenting and displaying said secondary display region upon said cursor position indicator means being placed in the screen position of said trigger region and said secondary display region not yet being present, said secondary display region, while present, covering at least a portion of said primary display region and always displayed over and covering other information currently present, or to be present, within said portion of said primary display region on said data display screen;

removing said secondary display region upon said cursor position indicator means leaving the screen position of said secondary display region, said other information currently present on said data display screen then displayable;

placing a first portion of said information from said primary display region within said secondary display region by displacing said first portion of said information via said cursor position indicator means and said cursor control device to the screen position of said trigger region, thus displaying said secondary region on said data display screen, and depositing said first portion of said information within the screen position of said secondary region; and

removing a second portion of said information from said secondary display region by displacing said second portion of said information via said cursor position indicator means and said cursor control device outside of the screen position of said secondary display region, thus removing said secondary display region from said data display screen, and depositing said second portion of information to a screen position within said primary display region.

48. The method as described in claim 47 wherein said trigger region is a rectangular bar region located on an outer edge of said data display screen.

49. The method as described in claim 47 once said secondary display region is displayed on said data display screen further comprising the step of displaying said trigger region within said secondary display region and within an edge of said secondary display region.

50. The method as described in claim 49 further comprising the step of expanding or contracting said secondary display region, once said secondary display region is displayed on said data display screen, by positioning said cursor position indicator means within said trigger region and displacing said trigger region vertically or horizontally while said display system is activated.

51. The method as described in claim 47 wherein the step of presenting and displaying said secondary display region on said data display screen occurs upon placing said cursor position indicator means within said trigger region and said secondary display region not yet present and said display system being activated.

52. The method as described in claim 50 further comprising the step of temporarily deactivating said secondary display region upon said trigger region being displaced to an outer edge of said data display screen fully contracting said secondary display region.

53. The method as described in claim 52 further comprising the step of reactivating said secondary display region upon said trigger region being displaced away from an outer edge of said data display screen thereby expanding said secondary display region.

54. The method as described in claim 50 further comprising the step of modifying the screen position of said information displayed within said secondary display region in accordance with the displacement of said trigger region, when said trigger region reaches said position of said information, until said position of said information reaches a first outer edge of said display screen, said position of said information reaching said first outer edge of the data display screen causing said position of said information to remain fixed and said trigger region thus covering said information if displaced further toward said first outer edge of said data display screen.

55. The method as described in claim 54 further comprising the step of returning said displaced information to the original screen positions of said information upon said trigger region being displaced away from said first outer edge of said display screen such that the trigger region position reaches said original screen location of said information.

56. The method as described in claim 47 wherein the screen location on said data display screen of said information within said secondary display region is stored by said processor as a relative position with respect to the total width of said data display screen.

57. The method as described in claim 47 further comprising the step of opening a window displaying a portion of said information, said window being represented by an icon being displayed within said secondary display region, causing said open window to appear in said primary display region and not in said secondary display region, and if said secondary display region open said secondary display region covering over at least partially said open window to the extent said open window is in the portion of said primary display region which is covered by said secondary display region when said secondary display region is displayed.

58. The method as described in claim 57 further comprising the step of closing said open window file and zooming down a closing animated image toward the screen position of said trigger region.

59. The method as described in claim 47 wherein said cursor control device is a computer mouse device.

60. The method as described in 47 wherein said display system is activated by an activation command from one of said cursor control device and a keyboard coupled to said display system.

61. In an interactive computer-controlled display system having a processor, a data display screen coupled to said processor, a cursor control device coupled to said processor for interactively positioning a cursor position indicator means on said data display screen, and information within said display system, a method for interactively accessing a first secondary display region and a second secondary display region comprising the steps of:

controlling said cursor position indicator means via said cursor control device;

generating and displaying a primary display region on said data display screen for viewing at least a portion of said information;

generating and displaying a first trigger region on said data display screen;

generating and displaying a second trigger region on said data display screen;

presenting and displaying said first secondary display region upon said cursor position indicator means being placed in the screen position of said first trigger region and said first secondary display region not yet being present, said first secondary display region, while present, covering at least a portion of said primary display region and always displayed over and covering other information currently present, or to be present, within said portion of said primary display region on said data display screen said first secondary display region when displayed being displayed without closing said other information within said portion of said primary display region;

presenting and displaying said second secondary display region upon said cursor position indicator means being placed in the screen position of said second trigger region and said second secondary display region not yet being present, said second secondary display region when present, covering at least a portion of said primary display region and always displayed over and covering other information currently present, or to be present, within said portion of said primary display region on said data display screen said second secondary display region when displayed being displayed without closing said other information within said portion of said primary display region;

removing said first secondary display region upon said cursor position indicator means leaving the screen position of said first secondary display region;

removing said second secondary display region upon said cursor position indicator means leaving the screen position of said second secondary display region;

placing a first portion of said information from said primary display region within said first secondary display region by displacing said first portion of said information via said cursor position indicator means and said cursor control device to the screen position of said first trigger region, thus displaying said first secondary region on said data display screen, and depositing said first portion of said information within the screen position of said first secondary display region;

placing a second portion of said information from said primary display region within said second secondary display region by displacing said second portion of said information via said cursor position indicator means and said cursor control device to the screen position of said second trigger region, thus displaying said second secondary display region on said data display, screen, and depositing said second portion of said information within the screen position of said second secondary display region;

removing a third portion of said information from said first secondary display region by displacing said third portion of said information via said cursor position indicator means and said cursor control device outside of the screen position of said first secondary display region, thus removing said first secondary display region from said data display screen, and depositing said third portion of information to a screen position outside of said first secondary display region; and

removing a fourth portion of said information from said second secondary display region by displacing said fourth portion of said information via said cursor position indicator means and said cursor control device outside of the screen position of said second secondary display region, thus removing said second secondary display region from said data display screen, and depositing said fourth portion of information to a screen position outside of said second secondary display region.

62. The method as described in claim 61 further comprising the steps of:

removing said first secondary display region upon said second secondary display region being presented and displayed; and

removing said second secondary display region upon said first secondary display region being presented and displayed.

63. The method as described in claim 61 wherein said first trigger region and said second trigger region are rectangular bar regions.

64. The method as described in claim 61 once said first secondary display region is displayed on said data display screen, further comprising the steps of:

displaying said first trigger region within said first secondary display region at an edge of said first secondary display region; and

displaying said second trigger region within said first secondary display region.

65. The method as described in claim 61 once said second secondary display region is displayed on said data display screen, further comprising the steps of:

displaying said second trigger region within said second secondary display region at an edge of said second secondary display region; and

displaying said first trigger region within said second secondary display region.

66. The method as described in claim 62 further comprising the step of expanding or contracting either of said first or said second secondary display regions, depending on which of said first or said second secondary display region is displayed on said data display screen, by positioning said cursor position indicator means within said first or said second trigger region displayed and displacing said trigger region vertically or horizontally while said cursor device is activated.

67. The method of claim 61 further comprising the steps of:

presenting and displaying said first secondary display region upon said cursor position indicator means reaching the screen position of said first trigger region and said first secondary display region not yet being present and said cursor device being activated; and

presenting and displaying said second secondary display region upon said cursor position indicator means reaching the screen position of said second trigger region and said second secondary display region not yet being present and said cursor device being activated.

68. The method of claim 66 further comprising the step of temporarily deactivating said first secondary display region upon said first trigger region being displaced to an outer edge of said data display screen fully contracting said first secondary display region.

69. The method of claim 66 further comprising the step of temporarily deactivating said second secondary display region upon said second trigger region being displaced to an outer edge of said data display screen fully contracting said second secondary display region.

70. The method as described in claim 68 further comprising the step of reactivating said first secondary display region upon said first trigger region being displaced away from an outer edge of said data display screen expanding said first secondary display region.

71. The method as described in claim 69 further comprising the step of reactivating said second secondary display region upon said first trigger region being displaced away from an outer edge of said data display screen expanding said first secondary display region.

72. The method as described in claim 61 wherein the cursor control device is a computer mouse device.

73. In a computer controlled information management system including a display screen containing a primary display region which displays a plurality of display windows and/or icons, some of which may block or partially block the view of others depending on the number of windows and/or icons being displayed at any given time, a method of interactively providing access to a secondary display system comprising the steps of:

generating and displaying said secondary display region covering at least a portion of said primary display region and any windows and/or icons being displayed within that portion of the primary display region, said secondary display region and its contents, when present, being completely viewable within said display screen such that, while said secondary display region is displayed it is always displayed over and covering other data including said plurality of display windows and/or icons to the extent said plurality of display windows and/or icons are in said portion of said primary display region;

removing said secondary display region from said display screen thereby allowing said primary display region to be viewed in its entirety;

a plurality of icons within said secondary display region upon display of said secondary display region;

selectively transferring icons into said secondary display region when said secondary display region is displayed, by dragging said icons from said primary display region into said secondary display region and depositing said icons into said secondary display region; and

selectively transferring icons from said secondary display region, when said secondary display region is present, by dragging said icons from said secondary display region to said primary display region, and depositing said icons into said primary display region.

74. The method as described in claim 73 wherein said step of selectively transferring icons into said secondary display region includes dragging said icons from said primary display region, triggering the display of said secondary display region, and dragging said icons into said secondary display region then displayed, and

wherein said step of selectively transferring icons from said secondary display region includes dragging said icons from said secondary display region, triggering the removal of said secondary display region, and dragging said icons into said primary display region.

76. In a computer controlled information management system including a display screen containing a primary display region which displays a first portion of information stored in said information management system, a method of interactively providing access to a secondary display system comprising the steps of:

generating and displaying a secondary display region covering at least a portion of said primary display region and any information being displayed within that portion of the primary display region, said secondary display region, when present, being completely viewable within said display screen such that, while said secondary display region is displayed it is always displayed over and covering other data including any information to the extent such any information is in said portion of said primary display region;

removing said secondary display region from said display screen thereby allowing said primary display region to be viewed in its entirety;

secondary information stored in said information management system within said secondary display region upon display of said secondary display region;

selectively transferring selected information from said first portion of information into said secondary display region when said secondary display region is displayed, by selecting said selected information from said primary display region and depositing said selected information into said secondary display region; and

selectively transferring selected secondary information from said secondary display region, when said secondary display region is present, by selecting said selected secondary information from said secondary display region, and depositing said selected secondary information into said primary display region.

77. In a computer controlled information management system including a display screen and a user input device, said display screen containing a desktop display region which displays information stored in said information management system, a method of interactively providing access to information displayed in a first window, said method comprising the steps of:

opening said first window such that said first window covers at least a portion of said desktop display region and any information being displayed within that portion of said desktop display region, said first window, while open, being completely viewable within said display screen such that, while said first window is open it is always displayed over and covering other windows and data that overlap said portion of said desktop display region;

removing said first window from said display screen thereby allowing said other windows and data that overlap said portion of said desktop display region to be fully viewed;

displaying said information displayed in said first window while said first window is open; and

selectively transferring information between said first window and said desktop display region by performing the steps of;

selectively transferring desktop information from said desktop display region into said first window, while said first window is open, by selecting said desktop information from said desktop display region and depositing said selected information into said first window;

or

selectively transferring a portion of said information stored in said first window, while said first window is open, by selecting said portion of said information from said first window and depositing said portion of said information into said desktop display region.

78. A method of interactively providing access to information displayed in a first window as described in claim 77 wherein said step of opening said first window comprises the steps of:

using said user input device to position a display pointer over a trigger region when said first window is closed causing said first window to open, wherein said trigger region is always accessible on said display screen; and

rendering said first window onto said desktop display region such that said information displayed in said first window is displayed.

79. A method of interactively providing access to information displayed in a first window as described in claim 78 wherein said step of removing said first window comprises the step of using said user input device to position said display pointer out of said first window.