US7176943B2
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Intelligent windows bumping method and system
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 2003-06-27
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Granted: 2007-02-13
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Expires: 2023-06-27
Abstract
Abstract A system and method for bumping graphical components between display regions of a graphical computer interface are provided. The present invention bumps a selected graphical component in response to a signal from an input device. Bumping involves locating a destination location for the graphical component to be bumped, and moving the graphical component to the destination. The destination can be determined in any one of a number of different manners. Destinations can be located at a predetermined distance from an original location of a graphical component, at an “analogous” location on another display region, or at an open location in the same display region or another display region.
Inventors
- 👤 Brian Meyers
- 👤 Tim Regan
- 👤 Greg Smith
- 👤 Mary Czerwinski
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:40
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/14; G06F3/14; G06F3/1423; G06F3/1438
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
103 words
A computer-implemented method of moving a window from one location to another location in a graphical interface, the method comprising: in response to the selection of a window, automatically determining, without further user input, if said window is to be moved from the current location of the window to another location; if said window is to be moved, automatically determining, without further user input, except for direction, a destination location for said window, said destination location comprising an open location in said graphical interface; and moving, in a single step, said window from the current location of the window to said destination location.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
103 words
A computer-implemented method of moving a window from one location to another location in a graphical interface, the method comprising: in response to the selection of a window, automatically determining, without further user input, if said window is to be moved from the current location of the window to another location; if said window is to be moved, automatically determining, without further user input, except for direction, a destination location for said window, said destination location comprising an open location in said graphical interface; and moving, in a single step, said window from the current location of the window to said destination location.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising receiving a desired direction for said destination.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
39 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a destination location for said window comprises weighting a plurality of possible locations based on the characteristics of said plurality of locations and selecting said destination location based on said weighting.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining that said destination is located in a display region with a new resolution, and automatically resizing said window in proportion to said new resolution.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said window is selected by an input device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining if said window is to be moved is based on a signal from an input device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 6 , wherein said signal from an input device includes a desired direction to move said window.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
31 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a destination location for said window comprises determining a destination location that lies a predetermined distance from the current location of the window.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a destination location for said window comprises determining the current location of the window on a current display region, and designating an analogous location of another display region as said destination location.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 9 , wherein said current display region is located on one display and said other display region is located on another display.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said analogous location is located at substantially the same pixel coordinates as the pixel coordinates of said current location.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
34 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein said analogous location is proportionately distant from the edges of said other display region as said current location is from the edges at said current display region.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 9 , further comprising shifting said window if said window does not fit within said other display region.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising resizing said window to fit within said open location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said open location is a portion of a display region having no blocking graphical components.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein said blocking graphical components include the information bearing portions of other graphical components.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 15 , wherein said blocking graphical components include other graphical components accessed within a predetermined time period prior to determining a destination location for said window.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein said open location is at least the size of said window.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein moving said window comprises animating the movement of said window to said destination location.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
15 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying an indication of said destination location.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
28 words
A computer-readable media containing computer-executable instructions for performing the method of any of claims 1 , 3 , 4 , 8 , 9 , 20 or 3 .
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
35 words
A computer system having a processor and a memory storing computer-executable instructions operative to perform the method of any of claims 1 , 3 , 4 , 8 , 9 , 20 or 3 .
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface control device, a method of moving a window from one region of the display to another region of the display, said method comprising: in response to user input received from said interface control device selecting the window, automatically determining, without further user input, that a window on said display is to be moved to another location; automatically identifying, without further user input, except for direction, an open destination location on said display for said window to be moved; and automatically moving, in a single step, said window to said destination location on said display.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
110 words
In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface control device, a method of moving a window from one region of the display to another region of the display, said method comprising: in response to user input received from said interface control device selecting the window, automatically determining, without further user input, that a window on said display is to be moved to another location; automatically identifying, without further user input, except for direction, an open destination location on said display for said window to be moved; and automatically moving, in a single step, said window to said destination location on said display.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 23 , wherein said window is moved to an optimal open destination on said display.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
17 words
The method of claim 24 , wherein said optimal open destination is located according to predetermined criteria.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein said optimal open destination is located according to weighted values of potential open destinations.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 25 , wherein said window expands to fill the area of said optimal open destination.
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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) | 2010-02-12 | 2010-08-14 | 2011-02-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2014-02-12 | 2014-08-14 | 2015-02-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2018-02-12 | 2018-08-14 | 2019-02-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |