Patent US5771042A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5771042A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Multi-size control for multiple adjacent workspaces
Assignee: International Business Machines Corp
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Filing: 1996-07-17
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Granted: 1998-06-23
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Expires: 2016-07-17
Abstract
Abstract Methods, data processing systems or program products which provide a user interfaces capable of controlling the size of multiple workspaces with limited user input. The size of workspaces is controlled by connecting workspaces to create a single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of adjacent workspaces. Simultaneously resizing of the connected workspaces is done utilizing the single size control separator for the connected workspace and is based upon translation of the size control separator. The border of a workspace may be snapped to the border of an adjacent workspace to connect the workspaces. Additionally, Size of a workspace may be controlled by connecting common corners of at least three adjacent workspaces to create a corner single size control separator for all at least three adjacent workspaces. The connected workspaces are resized utilizing the corner single size control separator based upon the translation of the corner single size control separator. The corner of a workspace may be snapped to the corner of adjacent workspaces to connect the workspaces and create the corner single size control separator.
Inventors
- 👤 Lucinio Santos-Gomez
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 12:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04803
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 36
Claim 1
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of controlling size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment, the method comprising the steps of: connecting workspaces to create a single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of an adjacent workspace by snapping the border of a workspace to the border of an adjacent workspace to connect the workspaces and create a single size control separator for the borders of the adjacent workspace when the border of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined distance from the border of an adjacent workspace; and resizing connected workspaces utilizing the single size control separator for the connected workspace based upon translation of the size control separator.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
116 words
A method of controlling size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment, the method comprising the steps of: connecting workspaces to create a single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of an adjacent workspace by snapping the border of a workspace to the border of an adjacent workspace to connect the workspaces and create a single size control separator for the borders of the adjacent workspace when the border of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined distance from the border of an adjacent workspace; and resizing connected workspaces utilizing the single size control separator for the connected workspace based upon translation of the size control separator.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined distance is defined by user input.
Claim 4
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of controlling the size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment, the method comprising: connecting common corners of at least three adjacent workspaces to create a corner single size control separator for all of the at least three adjacent workspaces; resizing the at least three connected workspaces utilizing the corner single size control separator based upon the translation of the corner single size control separator.
Claim 5
Independent Claim
68 words
A method of controlling the size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment, the method comprising: connecting common corners of at least three adjacent workspaces to create a corner single size control separator for all of the at least three adjacent workspaces; resizing the at least three connected workspaces utilizing the corner single size control separator based upon the translation of the corner single size control separator.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
70 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein said connecting step further comprises the step of snapping the corner of a workspace to the corner of adjacent workspaces to connect the workspaces and create the corner single size control separator for the corners of the at least three adjacent workspaces when the corner of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined distance from the common corners of the adjacent workspaces.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 4, wherein the predetermined distance is defined by user input.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method according to claim 3, wherein the translation of the corner single size control separator is unconstrained and wherein the resizing of the workspaces resize the connected workspaces based upon the vertical and horizontal translation of the corner single size control separator.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
56 words
A method according to claim 3, further comprising: connecting workspaces to create a border single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of an adjacent workspace; resizing connected workspaces utilizing the border single size control separator for the connected workspace based upon translation of the border single size control separator.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said connecting step further comprises the step of snapping the border of a workspace to the border of an adjacent workspace to connect the workspaces and create a border single size control separator for the borders of the adjacent workspace when the border of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined distance from the border of an adjacent workspace.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the translation of the border single size control separator is restricted to normal to the direction of the border single size control separator.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
15 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein the predetermined distance is defined by user input.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for controlling the size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment comprising: a display device for displaying a user interface having at least two workspaces; means for connecting workspaces displayed on the display device to create a single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of an adjacent workspace by snapping the border of a workspace to the border of an adjacent workspace to connect the workspaces and create a single size control separator for the borders of the adjacent workspace when the border of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined distance from the border of an adjacent workspace; means responsive to user input and said means for connecting for resizing connected workspaces utilizing the single size control separator for the connected workspace based upon translation of the size control separator.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
142 words
A system for controlling the size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment comprising: a display device for displaying a user interface having at least two workspaces; means for connecting workspaces displayed on the display device to create a single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of an adjacent workspace by snapping the border of a workspace to the border of an adjacent workspace to connect the workspaces and create a single size control separator for the borders of the adjacent workspace when the border of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined distance from the border of an adjacent workspace; means responsive to user input and said means for connecting for resizing connected workspaces utilizing the single size control separator for the connected workspace based upon translation of the size control separator.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 11, further comprising means for defining said predetermined distance based on user input.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for controlling the size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment, the apparatus comprising: a display device for displaying a user interface capable of having at least three workspaces; means for connecting common corners of at least three adjacent workspaces to create a corner single size control separator for all of said at least three adjacent workspaces; means, responsive to user input and said means for connecting for resizing said at least three connected workspaces utilizing the corner single size control separator based upon the translation of the corner single size control separator.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
96 words
A system for controlling the size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment, the apparatus comprising: a display device for displaying a user interface capable of having at least three workspaces; means for connecting common corners of at least three adjacent workspaces to create a corner single size control separator for all of said at least three adjacent workspaces; means, responsive to user input and said means for connecting for resizing said at least three connected workspaces utilizing the corner single size control separator based upon the translation of the corner single size control separator.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
70 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein said means for connecting further comprises means for snapping the corner of a workspace to the corner of adjacent workspaces to connect the workspaces and create the corner single size control separator for the corners of the at least three adjacent workspaces when the corner of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined distance from the common corners of the adjacent workspaces.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
A system according to claim 14, further comprising means for defining said predetermined distance based on user input.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
42 words
A system according to claim 13, wherein the translation of the corner single size control separator is unconstrained and wherein said means for resizing resizes the connected workspaces based upon the vertical and horizontal translation of the corner single size control separator.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
68 words
A system according to claim 13, further comprising: means for connecting workspaces to create a border single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of an adjacent workspace; means, responsive to user input and said connecting means, for resizing connected workspaces utilizing the border single size control separator for the connected workspace based upon translation of the border single size control separator.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
90 words
A system according to claim 17, wherein said means for connecting workspaces to create a border single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of an adjacent workspace comprises means for snapping the border of a workspace to the border of an adjacent workspace to connect the workspaces and create a border single size control separator for the borders of the adjacent workspace when the border of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined border distance from the border of an adjacent workspace.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
59 words
A system according to claim 17, wherein said means for resizing connected workspaces utilizing the border single size control separator for the connected workspace based upon translation of the border single size control separator comprises means for restricting the translation of the border single size control separator to normal to the direction of the border single size control separator.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
19 words
A system according to claim 18, further comprising means for defining said predetermined border distance based on user input.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
166 words
A computer program product for controlling the size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising: computer-readable program code means for connecting workspaces displayed on the display device to create a single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of an adjacent workspace by snapping the border of a workspace to the border of an adjacent workspace to connect the workspaces and create a single size control separator for the borders of the adjacent workspace when the border of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined distance from the border of an adjacent workspace, computer readable program code means, responsive to user input and said computer readable program code means for connecting workspaces, for resizing connected workspaces utilizing the single size control separator for the connected workspace based upon translation of the size control separator.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
166 words
A computer program product for controlling the size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising: computer-readable program code means for connecting workspaces displayed on the display device to create a single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of an adjacent workspace by snapping the border of a workspace to the border of an adjacent workspace to connect the workspaces and create a single size control separator for the borders of the adjacent workspace when the border of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined distance from the border of an adjacent workspace, computer readable program code means, responsive to user input and said computer readable program code means for connecting workspaces, for resizing connected workspaces utilizing the single size control separator for the connected workspace based upon translation of the size control separator.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program product according to claim 21, further comprising computer-readable program code means for defining said predetermined distance based on user input.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
116 words
A computer program product for controlling the size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising: computer-readable program code means for connecting common corners of at least three adjacent workspaces to create a corner single size control separator for all of said at least three adjacent workspaces; computer-readable program code means, responsive to user input and said computer readable program code means for connecting common corners, for resizing said at least three connected workspaces utilizing the corner single size control separator based upon the translation of the corner single size control separator.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
116 words
A computer program product for controlling the size of multiple workspaces in a user interface environment, the computer program product comprising: a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in said medium, said computer-readable program code means comprising: computer-readable program code means for connecting common corners of at least three adjacent workspaces to create a corner single size control separator for all of said at least three adjacent workspaces; computer-readable program code means, responsive to user input and said computer readable program code means for connecting common corners, for resizing said at least three connected workspaces utilizing the corner single size control separator based upon the translation of the corner single size control separator.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
78 words
A computer program product according to claim 23 wherein said computer-readable program code means for connecting further comprises computer-readable program code means for snapping the corner of a workspace to the corner of adjacent workspaces to connect the workspaces and create the corner single size control separator for the corners of the at least three adjacent workspaces when the corner of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined distance from the common corners of the adjacent workspaces.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
23 words
A computer program product according to claim 24, further comprising computer-readable program code means for defining said predetermined distance based on user input.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
53 words
A computer program product according to claim 23, wherein the translation of the corner single size control separator is unconstrained and wherein said computer-readable program code means for resizing comprises computer readable code means for resizing the connected workspaces based upon the vertical and horizontal translation of the corner single size control separator.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
82 words
A computer program product according to claim 23, further comprising: computer-readable program code means for connecting workspaces to create a border single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of an adjacent workspace; computer-readable program code means, responsive to user input and said computer readable program code means for connecting workspaces, for resizing connected workspaces utilizing the border single size control separator for the connected workspace based upon translation of the border single size control separator.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
98 words
A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein said computer-readable program code means for connecting workspaces to create a border single size control separator for borders of workspaces which are aligned with the border of an adjacent workspace comprises computer-readable program code means for snapping the border of a workspace to the border of an adjacent workspace to connect the workspaces and create a border single size control separator for the borders of the adjacent workspace when the border of a workspace is moved to within a predetermined border distance from the border of an adjacent workspace.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
61 words
A computer program product according to claim 27, wherein said computer-readable program code means for resizing connected workspaces utilizing the border single size control separator for the connected workspace based upon translation of the border single size control separator restricts the translation of the border single size control separator to normal to the direction of the border single size control separator.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer program product according to claim 28, further comprising computer-readable program code means for defining said predetermined border distance based on user input.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-06-22 | 2001-12-22 | 2002-06-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-06-22 | 2005-12-22 | 2006-06-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-06-22 | 2009-12-22 | 2010-06-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |