Method for providing window snap control for a split screen computer program GUI

• US 6,661,436 B2
• Filed: 12/07/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: King.com, Ltd (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Moore, Martin T., Plurad, Jason C., Kessen, Bethany L., Barksdale, Molly K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Ba
• Application Number:
  US09/732,269
• Publication Number:
  US 20020070974A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,097 Days
• Field of Search: 345/788, 345/792, 345/798, 345/799, 345/800, 345/806, 345/807, 345/781, 345/783
• 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 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

A method for window snap control for a split screen computer program GUI is provided. In the method, an area between a first and second display windows of a computer program is selected. The selected area activates a snap function of the computer program. The snap function displays a selection icon for client interaction with a selection indicator within the selection icon. Selecting the indicator will increase a size of the first display window while simultaneously decreasing a size of the second display window.

Claims

1. A method for providing window snap control for a split screen computer program GUI comprising:

selecting an area between a first and second windows of a computer program;

activating a snap function within the selected area;

displaying a selection icon as a product of the snap function; and

selecting an indicator within the selection icon to increase a size of the first window while decreasing a size of the second window.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the snap function is activated by an address association within the selected area.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the snap function is activated by positioning a cursor to the area between the first and second windows.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

positioning the cursor at a point away from the selected area to remove the selection icon from display.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein the display of the selection icon is determined as a function of a position of the cursor along the selected area.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the snap function increases the size of the first window to a predetermined maximum viewable size while decreasing the size of the second window to a predetermined minimum viewable size.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

activating a manual resizing function in unison with the snap function.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the manual resizing function allows the cursor to resize the first and second windows variably.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection icon is positioned at an endpoint of the selected area.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the endpoint is at a base end of a vertical area between the first and second windows.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the endpoint is at a top end of a vertical area between the first and second windows.

12. The method of claim 9 wherein the endpoint is at a left end of a horizontal area between the first and second windows.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein the endpoint is at a right end of a horizontal area between the first and second windows.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein the selection icon is restricted to a one window indication when one window is viewed at a maximum size.

15. A method for providing window snap control for a split screen computer program GUI comprising:

selecting an area between a first and second windows of a computer program;

determining a geometric orientation of the selected area;

activating a snap function within the selected area as a function of the geometric orientation;

displaying a selection icon as a product of the snap function; and

selecting an indicator within the selection icon to increase a size of the first window while simultaneously decreasing a size of the second window.

16. A computer program product in a computer usable medium, comprising:

means for selecting an area between a first and second windows of a computer program;

means for activating a snap function within the selected area;

means for displaying a selection icon as a product of the snap function; and

means for selecting an indicator within the selection icon to increase a size of the first window while simultaneously decreasing a size of the second window.

17. The program of claim 16 further comprising:

means for positioning a cursor at a point away from the selected area to remove the selection icon from display.

18. The program of claim 17 further comprising:

means for determining a display of the selection icon as a function of a position of the cursor along the selected area.

19. A computer program product in a computer usable medium, comprising:

means for selecting an area between a first and second windows of a computer program;

means for determining a geometric orientation of the area between a first and second windows;

means for activating a snap function within the selected area as a function of the geometric orientation;

means for displaying a selection icon as a product of the snap function; and

means for selecting an indicator within the selection icon to increase a size of the first window while simultaneously decreasing a size of the second window.

20. The program of claim 19 further comprising:

means for activating a manual resizing function in unison with the snap function.