Multi-application tabbing system
First Claim
1. A method for combining a plurality of windows on a display screen, the method comprising steps of:
- receiving an input to associate a first window of a first size and at least one second window of a second size, wherein the input is a signal corresponding to a movement of the at least one second window over a target location of the first window;
associating the first window with the at least one second window, said at least one second window being independent of and external to the first window, and the first size being different from the second size;
combining the first window and the at least one second window into a common window on a display screen, the first window and the at least one second window being configured to share a common window frame;
allowing each of the first window and the at least one second window to be selected from the common window frame;
sizing the common window frame to the first size when content of the first window is selected; and
sizing the common window frame to the second size when content of the second window is selected.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for displaying a plurality of windows on a display screen is described. The method includes steps of associating a first window with at least one second window, the at least one second window being independent of and external to the first window, and combining the first window and the at least one second window into a common window on a display screen, the first window and the at least one second window being configured to share a common window frame. An indicator may appear on the display as a target region when a user desires to associate the first and the second windows. Subsequent operations performed on the common window are performed automatically on any underlying window. For example, when a user chooses to save the contents of the common window, the contents of all of the windows of the common window may be saved.
84 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for combining a plurality of windows on a display screen, the method comprising steps of:
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receiving an input to associate a first window of a first size and at least one second window of a second size, wherein the input is a signal corresponding to a movement of the at least one second window over a target location of the first window; associating the first window with the at least one second window, said at least one second window being independent of and external to the first window, and the first size being different from the second size; combining the first window and the at least one second window into a common window on a display screen, the first window and the at least one second window being configured to share a common window frame; allowing each of the first window and the at least one second window to be selected from the common window frame; sizing the common window frame to the first size when content of the first window is selected; and sizing the common window frame to the second size when content of the second window is selected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A computer readable storage medium having a series of computer-executable instructions for performing a method of combining a plurality of windows on a display screen, the method comprising:
sending an instruction to combine a first top level window corresponding to a first application program and an at least one second top level window corresponding to a second application program into a common window, wherein the combination of the first top level window and the at least one second top level window is responsive to the first top level window and the at least one second top level window having been dragged into a predetermined target region displayed on the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A computer readable storage medium having a series of computer-executable instructions for performing a method for combining a plurality of windows on a display screen, the method comprising steps of:
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receiving an input to associate a first window and at least one second window, wherein the input is a signal corresponding to a movement of the at least one second window over a target location of the first window; associating the first window with the at least one second window, said at least one second window being independent of and external to the first window, and the first size being different from the second size; combining the first window and the at least one second window into a common window on a display screen, the first window and the at least one second window being configured to share a common window frame; allowing each of the first window and the at least one second window to be selected from the common window frame; sizing the common window frame to the first size when content of the first window is selected; and sizing the common window frame to the second size when content of the second window is selected. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification