Patent EP0623871A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0623871A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
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Window management system utilizing icons and miniature windows
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1994-04-12
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2014-04-12
Abstract
Abstract A system for accessing and performing management operations on file windows is disclosed. A control window containing icons representing each file in a product or system is linked to the files. Each icon in the control window is also capable of projecting a miniature window dynamically linked (in terms of content and parameters) to the actual file represented by the icon. File management operations, such as moving and sizing, performed on either the iconic or miniature window representations in the control window are transmitted directly to the files and implemented, whether the files' main windows are open or closed at the time the operations are performed.
Inventors
- 👤 Phillip J. Beaudet
- 👤 Eduardus Antonius Theodorus Merks
- 👤 Martin N. Rendall
- 👤 Roger P. Spall
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 15:51
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
113 words
A control window container for performing file 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 comprising: means for displaying a plurality of icons, each icon representing a separate product window; means for displaying a miniature window in association with each displayed icon; and link data means for linking each displayed icon to its corresponding product window for transmitting window management operations performed by a user through the locator input device, on a displayed icon or its associated miniature window, to said displayed icon's corresponding product window.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
33 words
A control window container, as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said miniature window has contents reflecting contents in its corresponding product window, and the contents of the miniature window cannot be directly manipulated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A control window container, as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the link data means is bi-directional for transmitting changes effected directly in the product window to said control window.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
A control window container, as claimed in Claim 3, wherein the link data means further comprises means for refreshing the contents of the miniature window corresponding to the product window to display changes effected directly in the product window.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A control window container, as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising first indicator means for designating icons corresponding to displayed product windows.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
14 words
A computer system comprising a control window container as claimed in any preceding claim.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
121 words
A file window management method in a computer system having a display and locator input means associated with the display, comprising the computer implemented step of: creating and displaying a control window container; displaying within said container an array of icons, each icon representing a separate product window in the computer system; linking said icons with their corresponding product windows for transmitting file window management operations from the icons to the product windows; in response to user performed operations on icons through the locator input means, displaying within said container miniature windows for selected icons; and in response to user performed operations on icons or miniature windows through the locator input means, transmitting window management operations to the corresponding product windows.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
59 words
A file window management method, as claimed in Claim 7,wherein the step of displaying within said container miniature windows or selected icons in response to user performed operations, further comprises: dynamically linking the displayed contents and parameters of said miniature windows with corresponding product windows for transmitting operations performed directly on said product windows to the corresponding miniature windows.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A file window management method, as claimed in Claim 7, further comprising means for highlighting icons in the control window corresponding to displayed product windows.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
30 words
A file window management method, as claimed in Claim 7, further comprising means for highlighting one icon in the control window actively transmitting window management operations to a product window.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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