System for browsing a network resource book with tabs attached to pages

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CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED PATENT APPLICATIONS

This application is related to the following U.S. patent applications:

(a) the application entitled "Object Oriented Framework System," by Debra L. Orton, David B. Goldsmith, Chistopher P. Moeller, and Andrew G. Heninger, filed Dec. 23, 1992, and assigned to Tallgent, Inc., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference;

(b) the application entitled "Business Card System," by Robert D. Dickinson, filed Jan. 22, 1993, and assigned to Taligent, Inc., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference; and

(c) the application entitled, "Place Object Display System", by Robert D. Dickinson, filed Jun. 3, 1993, and assigned to Taligent, Inc., the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to a method for accessing various resources of a computer through an object oriented operating system, and more particularly, to the access and selection of various resources of a network for implementing desired tasks.

2. Background of the Invention

A name service directory or hierarchy is a collection of objects within a networked computer system. Presently, no universal name service directory exists among networked computers. That is, no common framework for names and representations of objects exist within current networks of computers. As a consequence, networks are filled with a multitude of name service directories for differing objects, and a plethora of user interfaces.

Name service directories are typically organized hierarchically and contain collections of resources. Each collection refers to a distinct portion of a name service. Resources are sources of information that supply or support user interactions. For instance, resources can include people, places, and things such as printers, workstations, facsimile machines, as well as other services that are available to a user.

Current computer systems disperse information concerning resources over multiple name service directories and present them to a user in various inconsistent interfaces. Accordingly, a user is required to independently search through multiple name service directories before locating a desired resource. Such searches usually demand a user to expend large amounts of time in allocating a resource. A typical computer user is, however, usually unable to invest a substantial period of time in searching a resources before an appropriate name service directory and resource can be selected.

In addition to the lengthy and complex procedures for accessing a resource, current computer systems also do not provide for the implementation of a desired task through a resource. Thus, a user is required to first locate a resource and then implement the resource through a separate application. In sum, the prior art that the applicant is aware of provides a computer system that is overly complex and tedious for accessing typical resources that are located on a network. Moreover, the prior art that the applicant is aware of provides no manner by which a desired task can be implemented through an accessed resource within the same application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The invention overcomes the aforementioned deficiencies of the prior art by providing a method and apparatus for accessing and invoking resources from a window.

A system and method are used for selecting a particular resource from a plurality of networked computer resources in an object oriented operating system resident in a storage under the control of a processor with an attached display. A window is displayed containing one or more phonebooks. A phonebook is selected and computer resources associated with the particular phonebook are displayed along with tabs representative of types of computer resources.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The foregoing and other objects, aspects and advantages of a preferred embodiment will be better understood from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a computer system in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a flow chart depicting the general operation of a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 3 illustrates a resource book upon a display interface in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 4 illustrates a resource book with tabs on the selection of the class of phonebooks in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 5 illustrates a single phonebook employing scrolling in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 6 illustrates a single phonebook using paging in accordance with a preferred embodiment;

FIG. 7 illustrates the opening of a second directory from within a first directory in accordance with a prefer