Task window navigation method and system

• US 6,215,490 B1
• Filed: 02/02/1998
• Issued: 04/10/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 02/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kaply, Michael Aaron
• Primary Examiner(s): Bayerl, Raymond J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thomas T.
• Application Number:
  US09/016,983
• Time in Patent Office: 1,163 Days
• Field of Search: 345/340, 345/342, 345/345, 345/974, 345/343, 345/339, 345/145
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/974 Slider control as on-screen object in operator interface

Abstract

A method of managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on the graphical user interface of a computer. At any given time, one of the plurality of windows has a focus on the graphical user interface and a remainder of the windows are at least partly obscured behind the window having the focus. The method begins by displaying a graphical control device on the GUI, The graphical control device preferably has a plurality of identifiers each of which is associated with a given one of the plurality of windows. Thus, the graphical control device may be a slider, with each of the identifiers being a “notch”. As the graphical pointer is moved in a predetermined manner relative to the notches, respective windows are selectively positioned at the focus position on the GUI. Thus, the user may easily locate any desired window by traversing the graphical pointer across the slider notches. As each notch is traversed, the window associated therewith is brought into the focus position. This is a fast and simple technique for locating a hidden or partially obscured window on the interface.

Claims

1. A method for managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;

linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of windows;

as a user of a graphical pointing device moves a graphical pointer adjacent to an identifier in the graphical control device, determining whether the window linked to the identifier is at a focus of the graphical user interface;

if the window linked to the identifier is not at the focus, automatically bringing the window to the focus irrespective of whether the user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device; and

adjusting an order of the remaining windows.

2. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the window is positioned at the focus of the graphical user interface as the graphical pointer traverses the identifier linked with the window.

3. The method as described in claim 1 wherein an application is associated with each of the plurality of windows.

4. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the graphical control device is a slider.

5. The method as described in claim 4 wherein each identifier is a notch on the slider.

6. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the graphical control device is a scrollbar.

7. The method as described in claim 1 wherein the graphical control device is a representation of a knob.

8. A method for accessing tasks executing in a computer, each of the tasks having a graphical user interface task window associated therewith, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;

linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of task windows;

as a user of a graphical pointing device moves a graphical pointer adjacent to an identifier in the graphical control device, determining whether the task window linked to the identifier is at a focus of the graphical user interface;

if the task window linked to the identifier is not at the focus, automatically bringing the task window to the focus irrespective of whether the user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device; and

taking a predetermined action with respect to a given task window after that task window has been selectively positioned at the focus of the graphical user interface.

9. The method as described in claim 8 wherein the task window is positioned at the focus of the graphical user interface as the graphical pointer traverses the identifier linked to the task window.

10. The method as described in claim 8 wherein the graphical control device is a slider.

11. The method as described in claim 10 wherein each identifier is a notch on the slider.

12. The method as described in claim 8 wherein the graphical control device is a scrollbar.

13. The method as described in claim 8 wherein the graphical control device is a representation of a knob.

14. A computer program product in computer-readable medium for managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for generating and displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;

instructions for linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of windows;

instructions, responsive to a user of a graphical pointing device moving a graphical pointer adjacent to an identifier in the graphical control device for determining whether the window linked to the identifier is at a focus of the graphical user interface;

instructions, responsive to a determination that the window linked to the identifier is not at the focus for automatically bringing the window to the focus irrespective of whether the user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device; and

instructions for adjusting an order of the remaining windows.

15. The computer program product as described in claim 14 wherein the graphical control device is a slider and each identifier is a notch on the slider.

16. The computer program product as described in claim 14 wherein the graphical control device is a scrollbar.

17. The computer program product as described in claim 14 wherein the graphical control device is a knob.

18. A computer program product in computer-readable medium for managing access to tasks executing in a computer, each of the tasks having a graphical user interface task window associated therewith, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;

instructions for linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of task windows;

instructions, responsive to a user of a graphical pointing device moving a graphical pointer adjacent to an identifier in the graphical control device for determining whether the task window linked to the identifier is at a focus of the graphical user interface; and

instructions responsive to a determination that the task window linked to the identifier is not at the focus for automatically bringing the task window to the focus irrespective of whether the user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device.

19. The computer program product as described in claim 18 wherein the graphical control device is a slider.

20. The computer program product as described in claim 18 wherein the graphical control device is a scrollbar.

21. The computer program product as described in claim 18 wherein the graphical control device is a knob.

22. A computer, comprising:

a processor;

an operating system;

a display having a graphical user interface;

a graphical pointing device for controlling display and positioning of a graphical pointer on the graphical user interface; and

display control means executed by the processor for managing access to tasks executing in the computer, each of the tasks having a graphical user interface task window associated therewith, wherein the display control means comprises;

means for traversing the graphical pointer from a first position to a second position relative to a graphical control device displayed on the graphical user interface; and

means responsive to the traversing means (a) for positioning a first task window at a focus of the graphical user interface as the graphical pointer traverses a first identifier on the graphical control device, and (b) for positioning a second task window at the focus in place of the first task window as the graphical pointer traverses a second identifier irrespective of whether a user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device as the graphical pointer traverses the respective identifiers.

23. A method for managing a plurality of open windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

for each open window, linking each of a plurality of positions in a graphical control device to a selected one of the plurality of open windows; and

as a graphical pointer is moved across each of the plurality of positions in the graphical control device, selectively positioning a given one of the open windows at a focus position of the graphical user interface, wherein the given open window is positioned at the focus position as the graphical pointer traverses the position in the graphical control device linked to the given open window irrespective of whether a user also activates a control function using the graphical pointing device.

24. The method as described in claim 23 wherein an application is associated with each of the plurality of open windows.

25. The method as described in claim 23 wherein the graphical control device is a graphical representation of a slider.

26. A method for managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;

linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of windows;

receiving an indication of access of the graphical control device;

receiving a selection of a first identifier of the plurality of identifiers;

temporarily displaying a first window linked to the first identifier as a focus in response to the selection of the first identifier;

receiving a change of selection from the first identifier to a second identifier of the plurality of identifiers;

temporarily displaying a second window linked to the second identifier as the focus in response to the change of selection;

receiving an indication that access of the graphical control device is relinquished; and

establishing the second window as the focus in response to access of the graphical control device being relinquished.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising adjusting an order of the plurality of windows.

28. The method of claim 26, further comprising taking a predetermined action with respect to the second window after the second window has been established as the focus of the graphical user interface.

29. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of receiving an indication of access of the graphical control device comprises receiving an indication that a control element is engaged using a graphical pointing device.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of receiving the selection of the first identifier comprises receiving an indication that the control element is moved adjacent to the first identifier.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of receiving the change of selection comprises receiving an indication that the control element is moved from a position adjacent to the first identifier to a position adjacent to the second identifier.

32. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of receiving an indication that access of the graphical control device is relinquished comprises receiving an indication that the control element is disengaged using the graphical pointing device.

33. The method of claim 26, wherein the step of receiving an indication of access of the graphical control device comprises receiving an indication that graphical pointer is moved over the graphical control device using a graphical pointing device.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of receiving the selection of the first identifier comprises receiving an indication that the graphical pointer is moved adjacent to the first identifier.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of receiving the change selection comprises receiving an indication that the graphical pointer is moved from a position adjacent the first identifier to a position adjacent to the second identifier.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of receiving an indication that access of the graphical control device is relinquished comprises receiving an indication that the graphical pointer is moved so that it is not over the graphical control device.

37. An apparatus for managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, comprising:

means for displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;

means for linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of windows;

means for receiving an indication of access of the graphical control device;

means for receiving a selection of a first identifier of the plurality of identifiers;

means for temporarily displaying a first window linked to the first identifier as a focus in response to the selection of the first identifier;

means for receiving a change of selection from the first identifier to a second identifier of the plurality of identifiers;

means for temporarily displaying a second window linked to the second identifier as the focus in response to the change of selection;

means for receiving an indication that access of the graphical control device is relinquished; and

means for establishing the second window as the focus in response to access of the graphical control device being relinquished.

38. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for receiving an indication of access of the graphical control device comprises means for receiving an indication that a control element is engaged using a graphical pointing device.

39. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the means for receiving the selection of the first identifier comprises means for receiving an indication that the control element is moved to a position adjacent to the first identifier.

40. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the means for receiving the change of selection comprises means for receiving an indication that the control element is moved from a position adjacent to the first identifier to a position adjacent to the second identifier.

41. The apparatus of claim 38, wherein the means for receiving an indication that access of the graphical control device is relinquished comprises means for receiving an indication that the control element is disengaged using the graphical pointing device.

42. The apparatus of claim 37, wherein the means for receiving an indication of access of the graphical control device comprises means for receiving an indication that graphical pointer is moved over the graphical control device using a graphical pointing device.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the means for receiving the selection of the first identifier comprises means for receiving an indication that the graphical pointer is moved to a position adjacent to the first identifier.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the means for receiving the change of selection comprises means for receiving an indication that the graphical pointer is moved from a position adjacent to the first identifier to a position adjacent to the second identifier.

45. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the means for receiving an indication that access of the graphical control device is relinquished comprises means for receiving an indication that the graphical pointer is moved so that it is not over the graphical control device.

46. A computer program product, in a computer readable medium, for managing a plurality of windows organized and displayed on a graphical user interface of a computer, comprising:

instructions for displaying a graphical control device on the graphical user interface, the graphical control device having a plurality of identifiers;

instructions for linking each identifier with a given one of the plurality of windows;

instructions for receiving an indication of access of the graphical control device;

instructions for receiving a selection of a first identifier of the plurality of identifiers;

instructions for temporarily displaying a first window linked to the first identifier as a focus in response to the selection of the first identifier;

instructions for receiving a change of selection from the first identifier to a second identifier of the plurality of identifiers;

instructions for temporarily displaying a second window liiked to the second identifier as the focus in response to the change of selection;

instructions for receiving an indication that access of the graphical control device is relinquished; and

instructions for establishing the second window as the focus in response to access of the graphical control device being relinquished.