EP0230141A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Porthole window system for computer displays
Assignee: Texas Instruments Inc
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Filing: 1986-12-23
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2006-12-23
Abstract
Abstract A porthole window system for computer displays (10) allows a user to look at a portion (16) of a window (14) which could otherwise not be seen, a porthole window acts as an opening (16) in a window (12) of the usual type through which underlying windows may be seen. A porthole window (16) can be have different features as desired, including links to selected source and target windows, real time movement on the display screen, and the ability to be updated when a target window is updated. The porthole system runs concurrently with the normal window handling system of the computer.
Inventors
- 👤 Keith E. Diefendorff
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 11:48
CPC Classifications
G; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for generating porthole windows for a computer display, comprising: a screen memory: an output ' driver coupled to the screen memory and to the display for converting the contents of the screen memory into a signal suitable for use by the display; at least one bit save array memory for holding the contents of information windows; and a controller coupled to said screen memory and to said bit save array memories for selectively transferring the contents of the bit save array memories to the screen memory, and for selectively transferring information between selected bit save arrays: wherein said video controller can define a porthole bit save array which can contain a copy of a selected portion of one of said bit save arrays, and wherein said porthole bit save array is updated to reflect any changes which are made in the selected portion.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
145 words
A system for generating porthole windows for a computer display, comprising: a screen memory: an output ' driver coupled to the screen memory and to the display for converting the contents of the screen memory into a signal suitable for use by the display; at least one bit save array memory for holding the contents of information windows; and a controller coupled to said screen memory and to said bit save array memories for selectively transferring the contents of the bit save array memories to the screen memory, and for selectively transferring information between selected bit save arrays: wherein said video controller can define a porthole bit save array which can contain a copy of a selected portion of one of said bit save arrays, and wherein said porthole bit save array is updated to reflect any changes which are made in the selected portion.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of Claim 1, wherein said porthole bit save array is not contained in memory directly addressable by the system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of Claim 2, wherein said bit save arrays are not directly addressable by the system.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for generating porthole windows for a computer display device, comprising: a first screen memory: a second screen memory: an output driver coupled to the display device; a selector coupled to said first and second screen memories and to said output driver, wherein said selector selectively one of said screen memories to said output driver depending on the value of a control input: a plurality of window memories: and a controller coupled to said window memories. to said first and second screen memories. and to said selector device. wherein said controller selectively transfers information from said selector to said input to determine which screen memory will be coupled to said controller.
Claim 6
Independent Claim
112 words
A system for generating porthole windows for a computer display device, comprising: a first screen memory: a second screen memory: an output driver coupled to the display device; a selector coupled to said first and second screen memories and to said output driver, wherein said selector selectively one of said screen memories to said output driver depending on the value of a control input: a plurality of window memories: and a controller coupled to said window memories. to said first and second screen memories. and to said selector device. wherein said controller selectively transfers information from said selector to said input to determine which screen memory will be coupled to said controller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
54 words
The system of Claim 4. further comprising: clipping registers coupled to said controller. wherein said interrupt generator sends information to said controller which causes said controller to selectively change the selector control input so that selected portions of both of said first and second screen memories are alternately displayed on the computer display device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a computer system having a window system display, a method for generating a porthole window, comprising the steps of: a) copying selected information from a first window memory to a porthole memory; b) copying selected information from a plurality of window memories to a screen memory. wherein the contents of the screen memory will be displayed in the window system display; and (c) copying the contents of the porthole memory to the screen memory, wherein the contents of the porthole memory will be displayed in the window system display.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
90 words
In a computer system having a window system display, a method for generating a porthole window, comprising the steps of: a) copying selected information from a first window memory to a porthole memory; b) copying selected information from a plurality of window memories to a screen memory. wherein the contents of the screen memory will be displayed in the window system display; and (c) copying the contents of the porthole memory to the screen memory, wherein the contents of the porthole memory will be displayed in the window system display.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of Claim 6. wherein, in step (b). at least a portion of the first window save memory is copied to the screen memory.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of Claim 7. wherein. in step (b), less than all of the first window save memory is copied to the screen save memory.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a computer system having a window system display, a method for generating a porthole window, comprising the steps of: a) copying selected information from a plurality of window memories to a screen memory, wherein the contents of the screen memory will be displayed in the window system display; and b) copying contents of a selected part of one of the window memories to the screen memory to define a porthole.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
71 words
In a computer system having a window system display, a method for generating a porthole window, comprising the steps of: a) copying selected information from a plurality of window memories to a screen memory, wherein the contents of the screen memory will be displayed in the window system display; and b) copying contents of a selected part of one of the window memories to the screen memory to define a porthole.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for generating porthole windows for a computer display, comprising: a screen memory; an output driver coupled to the screen memory and to the display for converting the contents of the screen memory into a signal suitable for use by the display: a controller for transferring information to such screen memory to define windows therein, wherein said controller can define a porthole memory which can contain a copy of a selected portion of one of said windows, and wherein said porthole memory is updated to reflect any changes which are made in the selected portion.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for generating porthole windows for a computer display, comprising: a screen memory; an output driver coupled to the screen memory and to the display for converting the contents of the screen memory into a signal suitable for use by the display: a controller for transferring information to such screen memory to define windows therein, wherein said controller can define a porthole memory which can contain a copy of a selected portion of one of said windows, and wherein said porthole memory is updated to reflect any changes which are made in the selected portion.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The system of Claim 10, further comprising a plurality of predefined memory locations wherein the information contained in the windows is stored.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
17 words
The system of Claim 11, wherein said porthole memory and said window memories comprise bit save arrays.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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