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Description  |
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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer user interfaces and, more
particularly, to a window access and management system utilizing icons and
miniature windows.
2. Description of the Related Art
An icon is a pictorial representation of an object, action, property, or
some other concept on a computer display screen. Icons can be displayed
within control windows to represent entire programs or files in programs.
Furthermore, icons can be used to directly manipulate various operations.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,677 describes a "mini-icon" which enables
a user to move or copy a document into a folder by dragging the document
to the mini-icon. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,412 describes a displayed
object (e.g., icon) which can be moved to a different workspace to regroup
its associated files. U.S. Pat. No. 5,140,678 describes icons which
replace common user interface symbols, such as the title window bar,
command bar, and scroll bars.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,179,655 describes a displayed file window that can be
completely hidden by other displayed window(s). To do this, an icon is
generated and displayed as a conduit in a superordinate location of the
display screen. Such a conduit enables the user to re-access the hidden
window. U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,765 addresses the same issue by providing a
porthole that allows the user to view portions of windows hidden behind
other windows.
Another porthole or miniature window concept is described in U.S. Pat. No.
4,823,303, which provides "viewport" windows for a main file window. While
one "miniature" viewport window provides an overview of the file, the
other provides a close-up detailed view of a portion of the overview
window.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 5,072,412 describes a window "pictogram" which is
displayed with a corresponding icon "pictogram" The window "pictogram"
enables the user to view more information about the content of its
corresponding displayed object without actually viewing the main window
for the object. Finally, U.S. Pat. No. 4,974,173 describes "small-scale
representations" or miniature windows that appear on a screen
simultaneously with the main file window. The miniature windows provide a
record of changes made in the file window.
A locator input device, such as a mouse, enables users to perform the
previously described operations on the icons. Also, users may utilize the
tab key in active windows to move the curser along a title bar to perform
operations. To do this, the user presses the terminal "ENTER" key.
Furthermore, the "page up" and "page down" terminal cursor keys, as well
as by the mouse cursor itself, enable users to access scroll bars in
window frames.
In the related art, icons merely represent pictograms of the file types or
windows they denote. As such, the prior art fails to address several
important problems. First, often it is desirable to provide, in a single
window, a visual representation of all the windows that belong to the same
application. The present invention provides a means of not only collecting
together both icons and/or miniature windows, but also a means of showing
various relations among them.
Second, often it is desirable to provide a convenient means of performing
operations on the actual window through its representative icon or
miniature window. The present invention not only provides a means for
performing operations (e.g., sizing, moving, etc) on the actual window
using an icon or miniature window, but these miniature window
representations also dynamically maintain the state of the actual window
(as opposed to maintaining a static state which must be periodically and
explicitly refreshed).
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed to a control window containing icons that
permit the user to perform a number of operations on the parameters of
product windows, whether or not those windows are actually open at the
time the operations are registered on the icons. The present invention
also provides miniature windows associated with each icon that can be
displayed in the control window through which the various window
operations can be performed. The miniature windows presented in this
invention are dynamic and reflect the input of both control and parameter
changes made directly to the associated product windows.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a control
window container for performing window management operations in a computer
system having a display, a locator input device associated with the
display, and a plurality of product windows adapted for selective display
in a multiple window format. The container comprises means for displaying
a plurality of icons where each icon represents a separate product window,
means for displaying a miniature window in association with each displayed
icon, and means for linking each displayed icon to its corresponding
product window. The link means permits transmission of window management
operations performed by the user through the locator input device on
either a displayed icon or its associated miniature window to the
corresponding product window.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for
performing file window management operations in a computer system having a
display and locator input means associated with the display. The method
includes the computer implemented steps of creating and displaying a
control container, displaying an array of icons inside the container,
where each icon represents a separate product window within the computer
system, and linking the icons with their corresponding product windows to
transmit window management operations from the icons to the product
windows. In response to user performed operations on the icons through the
locator input device, the method also provides for displaying miniature
windows for selected icons within the container. In response to user
performed operations through the locator input device on either the icons
or miniature windows, the method provides for transmitting the window
management operations for performance to the corresponding product windows
.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a pictorial view of a window management control window displaying
a plurality of icons, in a multiple window format, according to the
invention.
FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing the control window with a
pop-up menu selected on one of the icons.
FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing miniature windows constructed
inside the control window, according to the invention.
FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 1, showing icons displayed in a tree
hierarchy in the control window, according to another aspect of the
invention.
FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 1, of miniature windows displayed in a
tree hierarchy in the control window, according to a further aspect of the
invention.
FIG. 6 is a flow diagram setting forth the computer implemented steps for
display and management of the control window.
FIG. 7 is a flow diagram setting forth the computer implemented steps for
effecting window management operations through product windows interacting
with icons contained in the control window.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
The present invention comprises a single control window container on a
computer display containing representations of product windows or related
file windows. The generic term "product window" designates both of these
types of windows. The control window container enables a user to control
each individual product window by using or manipulating the
representations and by integrating together the individual windows. These
representations include miniature windows and icons. Any suitable locator
input device, such as a mouse or touch screen, enables a user to control
the product window.
The term "container" refers to a window display object that contains other
display objects within its frame or boundary, such as icons and miniature
windows. As a window display object, standard user interface techniques
(described herein) control its opening, closing, and parameters (e.g.,
size and location). When the displayed contents of the container overflow
its established parameters, standard scrolling is available to increase
its usable display area.
Referring to FIG. 1, control window 10 contains multiple icons (generally
designated by numerals in the 20's). Each icon represents an open product
window that can be displayed on the display screen simultaneously with the
icon. Illustratively, "List:1" icon 21 represents the displayed "List:1"
window 31, while "Graph:2" icon 25 represents the displayed "Graph:2"
window 35. The remaining icons ("Text:1" 22, "Graph:1" 23, "List:2" 24,
"Text:2" 26, and "List:3" 27) represent hidden windows. Hidden windows are
windows that are not currently displayed on the display screen, but are
still "open" windows in the operating system.
A visual indicator enables the user to distinguish icons representing
displayed windows from those representing hidden windows. This is
especially useful in avoiding user confusion when large numbers of icons
are displayed in control window 10. Illustratively, both "List:1" and
"Graph:2" icons 21 and 25, respectively, have a distinctive border to
designate that their corresponding product windows are displayed.
Alternately, other highlighting features known in the art could be
utilized to indicate displayed windows.
However, the previously described visual indicator (i.e., a distinctive
border) must be distinguished from another visual indicator used to denote
an active icon. Active ions are illustrated as a highlighted labels (e.g.,
see icon 27 in FIG. 1 and icon 26 in FIG. 2). Alternately, other indicator
means known in the art might be utilized to indicate active icons.
A focus area is an area which receives subsequent keyboard input. The
present invention allows only one focus area in the control window and, as
such, only one icon will be active (e.g., subject to the focus area) at a
time. Alternately, other possible embodiments could provide for the
presence of more than one focus area at a time on the display. However,
numerous product windows may be simultaneously displayed in the multiple
window format on the display screen. Therefore, more than one icon may be
shown with a distinctive border in control window 10.
To simplify the displayed presentation, a user interface technique displays
the same type of product window using a common icon symbol. For example,
all "Graph" windows are represented by a common icon illustrating one
graphic depiction (see icons 23 and 25 and icons 22 and 26, respectively).
In FIG. 1, the icons displayed in control window 10 are arranged
horizontally by wrapping at the right hand side of the window. Another
alternative shown in FIG. 2 arranges the icons displayed in control window
10a vertically from top to bottom by wrapping at the bottom of the control
window. The user can alter the icon arrangement in the control window and,
thus, tailor the display to suit individual preference. This can be
performed either by menu selections or by drag/drop operations.
FIG. 4 illustrates an advanced application having multiple related files or
product windows. Depending on the style of display, the appropriate menu
selection commands enable the user to view window 10c. Control window 10c
shows the hierarchical relationship between the product windows
represented by the icons. Without this feature, these relationships would
not be readily apparent to the user. Each icon representing an individual
product window (referred to as icon window representation) is arranged in
a tree. These icon window representations are displayed as leaf nodes 42
through 47 in the tree. The root node 41 is the icon for the entire
product (a browser in this illustration) denoting that all icon window
representations are part of the overall product.
Icon window representations of the same type are grouped under an icon
denoting that window type. Descriptive text labelling accompanies the
icons to differentiate levels in the file hierarchy. Illustratively, icons
42, 44 and 45 denote a generic type of product window, while icons 43, 46
and 47 each denote specific product windows. This hierarchical display is
particularly useful in object oriented technology because the hierarchical
structure of the class library defines the characteristics (e.g.,
functions, types) of files (objects).
Referring to FIG. 2, standard user interface techniques indicate what
operations can be performed on a product window via its representative
icon. Illustratively, pop-up menu 50 can be obtained by locating the mouse
cursor directly on "text:2" icon 26 and single-clicking the mouse.
Selection of an operation from pop-up window 50 alters the parameters of
the product window. For example, pop-up window 50 lists four
operations--restore, maximize, hide, and close. However, because the
corresponding file window is hidden, the "Hide" operation in pop-up window
50 is "grayed out" to indicate that this operation is not currently
available.
File related operations can also be performed through the use of miniature
windows which, like the pop-up windows, are displayed in the control
window. FIG. 3 illustrates miniature windows 51 and 55 in control window
10b. Miniature window 51 corresponds to product window 31 (e.g.,
"List:1"), while miniature window 55 corresponds to product window 35
(e.g., "Graph:2").
A miniature window is a dynamic picture of the product window it
represents, the contents and parameters of which change to reflect changes
made to the product window. The contents of the miniature window cannot be
directly manipulated. However, the operations that are performable on the
product window's parameters can typically be performed on the miniature
window's parameters. When performed on the miniature window's parameters,
the same parameters of the product window are directly affected.
Such operations include those usually allowed on the individual product
windows themselves, such as re-sizing, moving, minimizing, maximizing and
restoring. For example, re-sizing the actual product window automatically
re-sizes its corresponding miniature window. Similarly, re-sizing the
miniature window automatically re-sizes its corresponding product window.
This example could apply equally to other window operations, such as
moving and restoring.
Possible features for the miniature windows include: (1) system and
pull-down menus; (2) title bars; (3) minimize, hide, and maximize buttons;
(4) minimize icons, where the product window is being minimized; (5) a
miniature window denoting the product window; and (6) a scaled down
version of the contents of the individual product window, which is
displayed as the contents of the miniature window.
Window representations are placed in the control window according to their
relative position on the entire screen. Windows can be minimized (e.g.,
replaced by an icon) to the contents of the control window and are
represented by an "inactive" icon (i.e., absent the distinctive border).
FIG. 3 illustrates an "inactive" icon 28 in control window 10b.
A more specialized application of the miniature window is illustrated in
FIG. 5. Control window 10d displays miniature window 60 and miniature
windows "Graph:1" 53 (corresponding to icon 23) and "Text:2" 56
(corresponding to icon 26). These miniature windows are derived from the
hierarchical format shown in FIG. 4.
Referring again to FIG. 5, these miniature windows are further derived from
downwardly directed arrows 62 connecting miniature window 60 to miniature
windows 53 and 56. This illustrates the hierarchical relationship between
the actual product windows represented by the miniature windows. In other
words, miniature window 60 is the miniature window representing browser
control icon 41 (the overall product in this example). Therefore,
miniature window 60 is the superclass for each of the "Graph:1" and
"Text:2" files, which are represented by their icons 43 and 47,
respectively, in FIG. 4 and by their miniature windows 53 and 56,
respectively, in FIG. 5.
The flow diagram of FIG. 6 illustrates the numerous window management
operations that can be performed through icons or miniature windows in the
control window. For simplicity, the term "icon" is used throughout the
flow diagram, but it should be noted that many of the same operations can
be implemented through miniature windows displayed on their corresponding
icons and the preferred embodiment covers this extended application.
On starting a control window for a particular product (block 100), links
are established with all open product windows (whether displayed or
hidden). A control window having linked icons thereon is displayed at
block 102.
In using the control window, if the user selects an option to display a
pop-up menu for a particular icon "x" at block 104, the computer displays
the pop-up menu at block 106. Operations from the pop-up menu include
"icon restore" at block 108, "icon maximize" at block 114, and "icon
minimize" at block 118.
The "icon restore" operation (block 108) displays the product window
represented by the icon at block 110. Further, it implements an "active"
visual indicator (e.g. a border) on the icon to show that its product
window is displayed (block 112).
The "icon maximize" operation (block 114) either maximizes the size of a
displayed product window or displays the product window directly at its
maximum size (block 116). If the icon is not already marked as active
(i.e. window open border), execution of this operation causes the border
to appear (block 112).
The converse operation is "icon minimize" (block 118) that hides the
associated file window at block 120, without closing or terminating the
link between the control window and the product window. On hiding its
associated product window, the icon is marked as inactive at block 122.
That is, the indicator border is removed.
The "display system menu" operation (block 124) relates specifically to
miniature window use. This operation displays the system menu for the
product window (block 126) from the title bar of the associated miniature
window. The system menu allow window manipulation operations. This system
menu contains the standard window operations shown in the flow diagram of
FIG. 7, such as "restore" (block 204), "maximize" (block 208) and
"minimize" (block 212) and permits performance of these operations on the
product window through implementing the locator input device on the
specific operation displayed in the miniature window.
Other operations performable on the miniature window that directly affect
the parameters of the corresponding product window include sizing (block
128) and moving (block 132). For example, performing a change of size
operation (block 128) directly changes the size of the corresponding
product window if displayed, or is recorded in the hidden product window's
parameters (block 130). Similarly, performing a "move icon" operation
(block 132) moves the corresponding displayed product window on the
display screen (block 134). If the product window is hidden, then the
miniature window would be an icon and, therefore, move are not possible.
In order to remove the link between the control window and the product
window, the "icon close" operation (block 142), which can be implemented
through either the icon or miniature window, deletes the icon from the
control window (block 144) and removes the product window, if displayed,
or simply severs the link between the control window and the product
window so that the product window can no longer be accessed (block 146).
The "icon refresh" operation (block 136) causes the miniature window
displaying the contents of a product window to be refreshed and, thus,
reflects any changes made to those contents (block 138). This operation
involves copying a suitably transformed image of the product window's
contents into the "contents" of the miniature window (block 140).
Operations that have a direct effect on the control window itself include
creating new file windows (block 148), changing the layout of icons in the
control window (block 156) and closing the control window (block 160).
When adding a new product window, the "control create new window"
operation (block 148) establishes a link between control window 10 and the
new product window (i.e., creates a new product window in relation to the
control window--block 150). Furthermore, it establishes a new icon in the
control window that represents the new window (block 152) and provides the
visual representation of the link between the control window and the new
product window. The new icon is immediately marked as active in the focus
area (block 154).
As is known, icons in the control window can be rearranged simply by
pressing the mouse button and dragging each icon to the desired location.
Either this manual method or pre-programmed arrangements can be effected
through an operation for "control change layout" (block 156), which causes
computer implementation of the layout change (blocks 158 and 102).
The "control close" (block 160) operation closes the control window,
deleting the icons from the display (block 162) and severing links with
the various product windows (block 164) to exit the control window program
(block 166).
FIG. 7 sets forth computer implemented operations in a product window
represented in the control window by either an icon or a miniature window.
The operation to start a product window (block 200) sends a message to
establish a link (for passing window management operations) between the
control window and the new product window (block 202). Once the link has
been established, the following operations can be performed on the product
window through its representative icon in the control window:
1. The "restore" operation (block 204) displays the product window and
sends an "icon restore" command (block 206) to the control window. In
turn, the control window receives and executes the "icon restore" command
(blocks 108 and 110 in FIG. 6), thereby marking the icon as "active"
(block 112 in FIG. 6);
2. The "maximize" operation (block 208 in FIG. 7) sends an "icon maximize"
command to the control window (block 210). In turn, the control window
receives and executes the "icon maximize" command (blocks 114 and 116 in
FIG. 6) to display, if necessary, and maximize the size of the product
window, while also marking the icon as "active" (block 112 in FIG. 6);
3. The "minimize" operation (block 212 in FIG. 7) sends an "icon minimize"
command to the control window (block 214). In turn, the control window
receives and executes the "icon minimize" command (blocks 118 and 120 in
FIG. 6) to hide the product window corresponding to icon "x" and mark icon
"x" as "inactive" (block 122); and
4. The "close" operation (block 216 in FIG. 7) sends an "icon close"
command (block 218) to close out the product window, delete the icon
representing the file, and sever the link between the control window and
the product window (blocks 142, 144 and 146 in FIG. 6).
Operations performed directly on the product window parameters alter the
parameters of the miniature window in the control window. These operations
include changing the size of the product window (blocks 220 and 222 in
FIG. 7) and changing the location of the product window (blocks 228 and
230). After these operations, the product window is refreshed (block 224),
as well as the corresponding icon (block 226 in FIG. 7 leads to blocks
136, 138 and 140 in FIG. 6). Any changes to the product window generate a
"refresh" operation (block 232). The "refresh" operation also updates the
corresponding miniature window.
Finally, as previously described, operations performed on a miniature
window affect the parameters of its corresponding product window.
Illustrations of these operations are shown in FIG. 7. However, other
operations would be obvious modifications to one skilled in the art, such
as: (1) the "do.sub.-- restore" operation (block 236), which opens the
product window from the control window (block 238); (2) the "do.sub.--
maximize" operation (block 240), which increases the size of the product
window from the control window (block 242); and (3) the "do.sub.--
minimize" operation (block 244), which closes the product window (block
246).
This "do.sub.-- minimize" operation can also be performed directly on the
product window as a "do.sub.-- close" operation (block 248) to close the
product window (block 250) and end (block 252).
Provision of a single control window containing icons and miniature windows
representing multiple file windows has been particularly shown and
described in relation to the concept of a single product where the
multiple file windows are related. However, modifications to the described
preferred embodiments will be obvious to one skilled in the art and are
intended to be covered by the following claims.
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