US5455904A — Method of sizing or moving windows

Claim 1

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for sizing or moving one of a plurality of windows displaying respective applications including a first window displaying a first application and a second window displaying a second application in a windowed operating system, comprising the steps of: establishing at least one filter between said windowed operating system and said windows displaying respective applications; intercepting at least one message travelling between an input device communicating with said windowed operating system and said first window displaying said first application with said at least one filter; processing said at least one message by a specific application; and returning a neutral message to said windowed operating system, said neutral message not requiring said windowed operating system to take further action and allowing said windowed operating system to proceed with processing tasks in said second window displaying said second application.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 138 words

A method for sizing or moving one of a plurality of windows displaying respective applications including a first window displaying a first application and a second window displaying a second application in a windowed operating system, comprising the steps of: establishing at least one filter between said windowed operating system and said windows displaying respective applications; intercepting at least one message travelling between an input device communicating with said windowed operating system and said first window displaying said first application with said at least one filter; processing said at least one message by a specific application; and returning a neutral message to said windowed operating system, said neutral message not requiring said windowed operating system to take further action and allowing said windowed operating system to proceed with processing tasks in said second window displaying said second application.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 47 words

The method of claim 1 wherein the step of processing said at least one message further comprises the steps of: processing each of a plurality of mouse and keyboard events that correspond to a window moving or window sizing event; and initializing a plurality of window parameters.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 155 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said plurality of application window parameters includes: a variable indicating whether an action has been started in said first window displaying said first application; a variable indicating whether an icon has been loaded; a variable indicating whether said icon is in a menu run phase or icon move phase; a variable indicating an active cursor identifier; a plurality of variables indicating coordinates of said first window displaying said first application and a minimum width during sizing and framing; a variable indicating a current position of said first window displaying said first application; a variable indicating a current mouse position; a plurality of variables recording directional information associated with said plurality of mouse and keyboard events; a variable recording an initial position of said first window displaying said first application; a variable recording an initial position of a cursor; and a plurality of Boolean variables initially assumed to be false.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 2 wherein said filter establishing step comprises the steps of providing a first filter for receiving a plurality of hardware interrupts and providing and a second filter for filtering and receiving messages sent to said windows displaying respective applications.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 75 words

The method according to claim 4 wherein said step of intercepting said at least one message further comprises the steps of: triggering processing of said at least one message by said specific application; accessing said plurality of window parameters; and using a plurality of functions to initialize processing by said specific application, to move said first window displaying said first application, and to end processing of said at least one message by said specific application.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 35 words

The method according to claim 5 wherein said initialize processing function processes only mouse events associated with a mouse button being pressed and keyboard events requesting resizing of said first window displaying said first application.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 36 words

The method according to claim 5, wherein said end processing function processes only mouse events associated with a mouse button being released and keyboard events associated with an escape key input and a return key input.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method according to claim 5 wherein said move function processes only mouse events associated with mouse movement and keyboard events associated with directional key input.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 74 words

The method according to claim 6 wherein said initialize processing function further comprises the steps of: reading mouse events in a manner that excludes reading of said mouse events by other functions; determining whether said first window is written inside a parent window in order to limit movement of said first window, and initializing coordinates of said first window and a cursor to become current coordinates and initializing characteristic parameters of said first window.

Claim 11

Independent Claim 199 words

A method for sizing or moving one of a plurality of windows displaying respective applications in a windowed operating system, comprising the steps of: establishing at least one filter between said windowed operating system and said window displaying a respective application; intercepting at least one message travelling between said windowed operating system and said window displaying said respective application; processing said at least one intercepted message by a specific application, wherein said step of processing said message comprises the steps of: activating said at least one filter, storing in a memory a plurality of window parameters for said window displaying said respective application to which said at least one intercepted message is sent, storing in the memory the type of action requested by said at least one intercepted message exclusively appropriating later mouse events for processing by said specific application, and drawing a ghost frame around said window displaying said respective application; and returning a neutral message to said windowed operating system, wherein said neutral message does not require said windowed operating system to take further action and allows said windowed operating system to proceed with processing tasks in other ones of said plurality of windows displaying respective applications.

Claim 12

Independent Claim 199 words

A method for sizing or moving one of a plurality of windows displaying respective applications in a windowed operating system, comprising the steps of: establishing at least one filter between said windowed operating system and said window displaying a respective application; intercepting at least one message travelling between said windowed operating system and said window displaying said respective application; processing said at least one intercepted message by a specific application, wherein said step of processing said message comprises the steps of: activating said at least one filter, storing in a memory a plurality of window parameters for said window displaying said respective application to which said at least one intercepted message is sent, storing in the memory the type of action requested by said at least one intercepted message exclusively appropriating later mouse events for processing by said specific application, and drawing a ghost frame around said window displaying said respective application; and returning a neutral message to said windowed operating system, wherein said neutral message does not require said windowed operating system to take further action and allows said windowed operating system to proceed with processing tasks in other ones of said plurality of windows displaying respective applications.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 46 words

The method of claim 10 further comprising the steps of: calculating a final position of said window displaying said respective application; erasing the ghost frame; drawing said window displaying said respective application in said final position; and resetting said a plurality of window parameters to zero.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 11 further comprising the steps of: allowing mouse messages to be read by other functions; and deactivating said at least one filter.

Claim 15

Independent Claim 178 words

A method for sizing or moving one of a plurality of windows displaying respective applications including a first window displaying a first application and a second window displaying a second application in a windows operating system, comprising the steps of: establishing a filter between said windows operating system and said plurality of windows displaying respective applications; intercepting at least one message travelling between an input device communicating with said windows operating system and said first window displaying said first application with said filter, said message corresponding to a window resizing or moving command and having a plurality of later mouse or keyboard events associated therewith; processing said at least one intercepted message by a specific application dedicated to processing only window resizing or moving commands; and returning a neutral message to said windows operating system, wherein said neutral message does not require said windows operating system to take further action and allows said windows operating system to process tasks in said second window displaying said second application while said specific application processes said later mouse or keyboard events.

Claim 16

Independent Claim 178 words

A method for sizing or moving one of a plurality of windows displaying respective applications including a first window displaying a first application and a second window displaying a second application in a windows operating system, comprising the steps of: establishing a filter between said windows operating system and said plurality of windows displaying respective applications; intercepting at least one message travelling between an input device communicating with said windows operating system and said first window displaying said first application with said filter, said message corresponding to a window resizing or moving command and having a plurality of later mouse or keyboard events associated therewith; processing said at least one intercepted message by a specific application dedicated to processing only window resizing or moving commands; and returning a neutral message to said windows operating system, wherein said neutral message does not require said windows operating system to take further action and allows said windows operating system to process tasks in said second window displaying said second application while said specific application processes said later mouse or keyboard events.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 27 words

The method of claim 13 wherein the step of processing said at least one intercepted message further comprises the step of: initializing a plurality of window parameters.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 218 words

The method of claim 14 wherein said plurality of window parameters include: a variable indicating whether an action has been started in said first window displaying said first application ("h -- WndCurr"); a variable indicating whether an icon has been loaded ("b -- LoadedIcon"); a variable indicating whether said icon is in a menu run phase or an icon move phase ("h -- WndMenu"); a variable indicating an active cursor identifier ("h -- OldCursor"); a plurality of variables indicating coordinates of said first window displaying said first application and a minimum width during sizing and framing ("w -- CXScreen, "w -- CYScreen," "w -- CXframe," "w -- CYMinHeight" and "w -- CXMinWidth"); a variable indicating a current position of said first window displaying said first application ("Frm -- CurPos"); a variable indicating a current mouse position ("Mse -- CurPos"); a plurality of variables recording directional information associated with said plurality of mouse and keyboard events ("w -- Left," "w -- Top," "w -- Right," "w-Bottom" and "w-Caption"); a variable recording an initial position of said first window displaying said first application ("Wnd -- StartPos"); a variable recording an initial position of a cursor ("Mse -- StartPos"); and a plurality of Boolean variables assumed to be false when the filter is established ("b -- Cursor" and "b -- LoadedIcon").

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 43 words

The method of claim 13 wherein said filter establishing step comprises the steps of: providing a first filter for receiving a plurality of hardware interrupt messages and providing a second filter for filtering and receiving messages sent to said windows displaying respective applications.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 94 words

The method according to claim 14 wherein said step of intercepting said at least one message further comprises the steps of: triggering processing of said at least one intercepted message by said specific application; retrieving said plurality of window parameters; and using a plurality of processing functions selected from the group consisting of: a first function to initialize processing of said at least one message by said specific application; a second function to move said first window; and a third function to end processing of said at least one message by said specific application.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 49 words

The method of claim 17 wherein said first function processes only messages (WM -- BUTTONDOWN) sent when mouse events associated with a mouse button being pressed occur and messages (SC -- SIZE) sent when keyboard events requesting that one of said plurality of windows displaying respective applications be resized.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 60 words

The method of claim 17 wherein said third function processes only messages (WM -- BUTTONUP) sent when mouse events associated with a mouse button being released occur, messages (VK -- ESCAPE) sent when keyboard events associated with an escape key being pressed occur, and messages (VK -- RETURN) sent when keyboard events associated with a return key being pressed occur.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 50 words

The method of claim 17 wherein the second function processes only messages (WM -- MOUSEMOVE) sent when mouse events associated with mouse movement occur and messages (VK -- LEFT, VK -- UP, VK -- RIGHT and VK -- DOWN) sent when keyboard events associated with directional keys being pressed occur.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 81 words

The method of claim 18 wherein the step of using said first function comprises the steps of: exclusively reading mouse events by issuing an instruction ("SETCAPTURE"); determining whether the first window is a child window, namely written in a parent window to limit the movements of the child window; and initializing coordinates of the first window and a cursor to become current coordinates and initializing characteristic parameters of the first window ("w -- CXframe," "w -- CXMinWidth" and "w -- CYMinHeight").

Claim 25

Independent Claim 228 words

A method for sizing or moving one of a plurality of windows displaying respective applications including a first window displaying a first application and a second window displaying second application running under a windows operating system, comprising the steps of: establishing at least one filter between said windows operating system and said windows displaying respective applications; intercepting at least one message travelling between an input device communicating with said windows operating system and said first window displaying said first application; processing said intercepted message by a specific application, wherein said step of processing said at least one message includes the steps of: activating said at least one filter; memorizing a variable ("h -- Wnd") identifying said first window to which said intercepted message is sent; using a function ("HitTest") to determine and memorize the type of action requested by said intercepted message; exclusively appropriating later mouse events associated with said at least one message for processing by said specific application; and drawing a ghost frame around said first window; and returning to said windows operating system a neutral message (WM -- ENTERIDLE), wherein said neutral message (WM -- ENTERIDLE) requires said windows operating system to take no action and allows said windows operating system to proceed with processing tasks in said second window displaying said second application while said later mouse events are processed by said specific application.

Claim 26

Independent Claim 228 words

A method for sizing or moving one of a plurality of windows displaying respective applications including a first window displaying a first application and a second window displaying second application running under a windows operating system, comprising the steps of: establishing at least one filter between said windows operating system and said windows displaying respective applications; intercepting at least one message travelling between an input device communicating with said windows operating system and said first window displaying said first application; processing said intercepted message by a specific application, wherein said step of processing said at least one message includes the steps of: activating said at least one filter; memorizing a variable ("h -- Wnd") identifying said first window to which said intercepted message is sent; using a function ("HitTest") to determine and memorize the type of action requested by said intercepted message; exclusively appropriating later mouse events associated with said at least one message for processing by said specific application; and drawing a ghost frame around said first window; and returning to said windows operating system a neutral message (WM -- ENTERIDLE), wherein said neutral message (WM -- ENTERIDLE) requires said windows operating system to take no action and allows said windows operating system to proceed with processing tasks in said second window displaying said second application while said later mouse events are processed by said specific application.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 65 words

The method of claim 22 further comprising the steps of: calculating final coordinates of said first window corresponding to a final position or final size of said first window; erasing the ghost frame; drawing the first window in said final position; and resetting memorization parameters corresponding to said variable identifying said first window and said type of action requested by said intercepted message to zero.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 23 further comprising the steps of: abandoning ownership of said mouse messages by issuing a release capture instruction; and deactivating said at least one filter.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1998-10-02	1999-04-03	1999-10-03	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2002-10-02	2003-04-03	2003-10-03	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2006-10-02	2007-04-03	2007-10-03	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method of sizing or moving windows

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